Organisers of Bealtaine are delighted to announce the line-up for May 2012, which will see hundreds of theatrical, cinematic, craft, photographic, choral, dance and other events taking place across Ireland, giving people a chance to celebrate creativity as we age.
Mayo County Council will be presenting a wide-ranging programme of workshops and events for older people throughout Mayo, including community weaving, visual arts, dance, photography, music and storytelling. Poet Paul Durcan takes part in the launch of Praise in which I live and move and have my being in association with Poetry Ireland at Custom House Studios and Gallery on May 17 at 8pm.
The National Museum of Ireland – Country Life in Castlebar is offering an extensive programme with activities and events including a craft exhibition, a chance to make and enjoy a variety of floral decorations, and explorations of traditional May Day activities such as May Altars, May Queens and Maypoles.
At the Sacred Heart Hospital, Castlebar, there will be an exhibition, entitled Artfull, of work that has resulted from their wonderful art programme. One day a week artist Tom Meskell has been coming to the hospital to facilitate the participants in the creating of their own work. The participants are mainly older people with mobility issues, which have not hindered their creativity. The exhibition will be on in the foyer throughout May, with an official opening on May 4 at 7pm,
Cois Tine Heritage Group will be hosting a number of inter-generational arts events at the Heritage Centre, Kilmovee, including an inter-generational evening of traditional music, song, dance and story-telling on May 7, a craft morning displaying knitting and crochet by the Kilmovee Knitting Group on May 9 and on May 16 a revival on the local tradition of Station Mass. Also on May 16 there will be a presentation of prizes to local pupils for an essay competition, and a recital of teenage musicians, singers and dancers at Kilmovee Community Centre.
IRD Kiltimagh is organising a nostalgic night of popular Irish songs and stories from the 30s and 40s at the Town Hall Theatre on May 10 entitled Just a Song at Twilight. Fil Campbell will make her Mayo debut at this event in an affectionate tribute to Irish folk songs.
Linenhall Arts Centre will be screening My House in Umbria starring Maggie Smith on May 23 as part of the Bealtaine Film Tour presented by access>CINEMA and the Irish Film Institute. Linenhall is also host to Castlebar Active Retired Group Variety Concert on May 30 at 8pm.
