Cork County Council’s Library and Arts Services launches Bealtaine Celebrations.

A woman in a chair

Cork County Council’s Library and Arts Services is marking Bealtaine this Month with an extensive range of creative activities to commemorate the festival that celebrates arts and creativity as we age. Taking place across the entire month of May, the Bealtine festival provides opportunities for all older people to meaningfully take part in and express their creativity and be represented by their work to highlight how our creative potential can grow as we age. 

Festivities from all over the County of Cork include Creative writing workshops classes in Dunmanway, Fermoy and Kinsale libraries. The Men’s Storytelling Group also returns to Dunmanway Library. Millstreet, Kanturk and Mitchelstown libraries will host a variety of free Arts and Crafts for anyone who wishes to get a little creative during the Bealtine period. Libraries in Bantry, Skibbereen, Mallow and Fermoy will play host to the hugely successful “Down Memory Lane” Music café series featuring the wonderful Linda Kenny, entertainer-extraordinaire Maurice Healy and Special guest Seán Ó Sé, a brilliant raconteur and singer.

Join historian Melissa Shiels for a once-off opportunity to learn how to dance in the “Regency” style, made popular by recent adaptations, at the Bandon and Cobh libraries or share memories, insights, and connections to the land with historian Shannon Forde, appointed heritage specialist, as she leads ‘Sustainable Heritage: Living in Harmony with the land’ an interactive workshop at the Passage West and Carrigaline libraries of which, Participants are welcome to bring relevant memorabilia that resonate with the theme of living in harmony with the land. 

Announcing the Bealtaine programme, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Frank O’Flynn commented 

There is a wide range of free events across the county, with something for everyone. Bealtaine is the perfect occasion to highlight the enormous contributions of older people within the County of Cork.  It is also a chance to try something new, to visit your local library and to spend time with family, friends or to meet new people.
 

Last but not least, the LHQ Gallery of the Library Building, Cork County Hall will also play host to ‘The Road Less Travelled’ exhibition by photographer Anna Groniecka’s, a Clonakilty-based artist who, over the last year has photographed portraits of people from across the County who contribute to culture and community development, including librarian Nora Levis, Chair of the Cork County Older Peoples Council Liz Downes and founder of the Mallow Arts Festival Tadhg Curtis and many more. 

For more information about Bealtine events in your local area, check out the below link.

Bealtaine Events