Laois Bealtaine Festival is back with packed programme of events

Bealtaine, the annual festival to celebrate creativity as we age, returns for a month of festivities this May.

Laois County Council Arts Office in partnership with the Laois Library Service, Dunamaise Arts Centre and Creative Ireland will mark the 30th anniversary of Bealtaine with a host of immersive and inclusive events that will truly encourage people aged 50 and over to engage with and explore their creative spirit.

Laois County Council Library Service are delighted to host Dr. Arthur Broomfield for the launch his new collection of short stories Rising Dust at Portlaoise Library on Thursday May 22 and following this event Laois Arts look forward to welcoming Arthur back to Laois Arthouse on May 24 to read from a selection of his poetry along with readings from local writers who have attended workshops facilitated by Arthur over the last few months. This later event will be accompanied by musical interludes from highly gifted harp player Aoibhe Kettle.

Laois Arthouse Library will also play host to an exhibition of artworks from the Laois County Council Collection. Láithreach Leanúnach - Present Continuous, curated by the Stradbally Art Group and accompanied by their own creative responses. Laois Arts are delighted to pilot this citizen curation project with Stradbally Art Group, bringing this selection from the Laois County Art Collection to the public for Bealtaine. CONTINUE READING BELOW 

Dunamaise Arts Centre will herald the arrival of Bealtaine with a range of events right across the artforms with highlights including live music from Dervish, the 4 of Us and Jerry Fish, numerous film screenings, a tea dance with Maureen Culleton, a sourdough bread demo and talk and a performance from Laois Fourth Wall Theatre Group.

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The Laois Library Service has the celebration of creativity in older age very much at the heart of its May events. Throughout the month Bealtaine will be centre stage in the seven Laois libraries with events ranging from craft and dance workshops to chair Pilates, book and reading clubs, cookery and much more. Creative Ireland, Laois Sports Partnership and Music Generation have also created events with the Bealtaine audience at its core.

Illuminating Laois, presented by Creative Ireland, features a talk in Portlaoise library by Dr Christy Cunniffe on the rich heritage of stained glass from the county of Laois. Music Generation will host Music at the Malthouse, an annual festival in Stradbally, that celebrates collaborations between emerging and professional musicians and Laois Sports Partnership and Laois County Council Sports and Leisure will present an Inclusive Activator Pole Wal, Boccia Days and a Willow Weaving Workshop.