Celebration of Bealtaine - The Festival celebrating Creativity in Older Age

22/04/2014

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

Celebration of Bealtaine

The Festival celebrating Creativity in Older Age

On Thursday 1st May at 11.00 am in Tallaght Stadium, Tallaght Mayor Dermot Looney will launch the Bealtaine Festival, the festival celebrating Creativity in Older Age. Bealtaine is co-ordinated by Age and Opportunity, the national organisation working to promote greater participation by older people in society. The name "Bealtaine" comes from the ancient Celtic festival of that name celebrating springtime, freshness and renewal. The theme this year for South Dublin County is “Catch the Heart off Guard”.

Eileen Casey, who is a poet, fiction writer, and journalist, will launch her prose collection “A Fascination with Fabric”. This will be followed by a short reading. RAMS in Rhythm will provide the musical entertainment for the morning. Our special guest is Tallaght native Al Porter who is one of Ireland’s rising comics with performances at Cat Laughs festival, Electric Picnic, Vicar Street and the Olympia Theatre already under his belt.

South Dublin County Council have organised a number of events during the month to celebrate the festival and have produced a brochure to advertise events for older people during Bealtaine. There is an opportunity here for everybody to try out something new! Some of the activities include crafts, computer classes, horticultural workshops, walking, tea dance, etc.

This year we are inviting people to tell us about a moment in your life when something wonderful happened that you weren’t expecting but which filled your life with joy. (Applications forms can be downloaded from www.sdcc.ie)

As a Local Authority we are putting in place the structures to address the changing needs of this segment of our population and work is ongoing to make South Dublin an Age Friendly County. Much of the work with our elderly population in the County is carried out by volunteers all over the county. South Dublin County Council has worked in partnership with many local organisations and statutory agencies to enhance the services for elderly people living in the county. Working together we can make South Dublin County a better place to live for people of all ages and abilities. 

For further information please contact Maria Finn, Community Services Department, South Dublin County Council.

Tel: 01 414 9270 or 086 380 3060 or email mfinn@sdublincoco.ie

Website: www.sdcc.ie