Latest news with #BealtaineFestival
Irish Independent
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Bealtaine Festival's film tour brings Italian classic to Wicklow
For over 20 years the resource organisation Access Cinema – whose mission is to provide all audiences throughout Ireland with access to the best of Irish, world and independent cinema, via a national network of non-profit and voluntary organisations – has partnered with the Irish Film Institute to organise a May film tour. The screenings happen in May to coincide with the Bealtaine Festival, where audiences over the age of 55 are actively encouraged to get involved with the Arts in their local areas. Film is one of the most accessible art forms and each year titles are chosen that it is hoped will appeal to the target audience. The film tour has struggled a little in the post-Covid landscape so this year the approach was changed a little, and organisers asked some of the cinema-loving audiences to help programme this year's tour. A call-out was arranged for volunteers to meet (in person and remotely) over a few months to work together to choose at least one of the titles. The group – comprising of volunteers from Droichead Art Centre, Dunamaise Art Centre and Mermaid Art Centre, along with the IFI's Wild Strawberry film club counterparts – attended meetings and programming workshops to work towards a title selection. Brigid O'Brien was Mermaid's representative. Part of what informed the selection was this year being Bealtaine's 30th Birthday and its continued theme of 'Lust for Life', based on Iggy Pop's iconic punk-era song celebrating life's dreams and ambitions. After much debate and discussion the title chosen for the tour was the classic Cinema Paradiso, Giuseppe Tornatore's loving homage to the cinema. A winner of awards across the world, the film tells the story of Salvatore, a successful film director, returning home for the funeral of Alfredo, his old friend who was the projectionist at the local cinema throughout his childhood. Soon, memories of his first love affair with the beautiful Elena and all the highs and lows that shaped his life come flooding back, as Salvatore reconnects with the community he left 30 years earlier. The Wicklow screening for Bealtaine's film selection of Cinema Paradiso takes place in Mermaid Arts Centre, on Monday, May 26, at 5.30pm. Tickets €3 includes tea/coffee.
Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Wexford nursing home receives top award
Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) and Age & Opportunity are teaming up again this year to celebrate National Arts in Nursing Homes Day, taking place on Friday, May 16, as part of the 30th anniversary of the Bealtaine Festival. Now in its fifth year, this special partnership highlights and celebrates the vibrant creativity, artistic expression, and storytelling traditions flourishing within nursing homes and care settings across Ireland. Homes and day centres nationwide are planning events to showcase the wonderful creative work of their residents and members. Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, said: "We are extremely proud to partner with Age & Opportunity in supporting National Arts in Nursing Homes Day. This important initiative reminds us of the deep creativity, storytelling and artistic expression that lives within our nursing homes. Across the country, residents and staff are embracing the day with enthusiasm, showcasing the vibrant communities that thrive within them." Mr Daly also paid special tribute to Oakfield Nursing Home in Wexford, which has been awarded one of the National Arts in Nursing Homes Day Awards for 2025. Oakfield Nursing Home has collaborated with renowned community artist Rachel Uí Fhaoláin to develop a unique traditional song and folklore project focusing on St. Brigid and the local wells dedicated to Ireland's patroness saint. Oakfield Nursing Home has been recognised for its special collaboration with community artist Rachel Uí Fhaoláin on a traditional song and folklore project centred on St. Brigid and the local wells dedicated to Ireland's patroness saint. Through a series of traditional song and folklore workshops, residents are working with Rachel to develop a new cultural collection of stories, songs, prayers and social history, culminating in a community participatory event on 16 May. "Oakfield Nursing Home's collaboration with Rachel Uí Fhaoláin is a wonderful example of the creativity and cultural richness that nursing home residents contribute to wider community life," said Mr Daly. "Their work preserves vital traditions while giving residents an active, meaningful role in cultural storytelling and knowledge transfer across generations." Dr Tara Byrne, Arts Programme Manager at Age & Opportunity, added: "We are so delighted to congratulate Rachel Uí Fhaoláin and Oakfield Nursing Home on winning one of our National Arts in Nursing Homes Day awards for their special folklore project and event on 16th May. On the 30th anniversary of Bealtaine, and in our fifth year of running this important initiative with our partner Nursing Homes Ireland, we are confident that more residents of nursing homes like Oakfield are engaging in enjoyable arts activities that give both themselves and the staff of those settings a greater sense of purpose and meaning."
The Independent
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Spectators gather for ancient Celtic fire procession that welcomes summer
Hundreds of spectators have gathered for a Celtic fire festival marking the beginning of summer in Co Westmeath. A procession of light and fire was held at the Hill of Uisneach, an ancient ceremonial site steeped in Irish mythology. Performers dressed in Celtic costumes and donned leaf head-dresses as they re-enacted life and traditions from centuries ago. At the end of the procession, a huge fire was lit welcoming the summer, a ritual that dates back more than 1,000 years to the time of the High Kings of Ireland. The Bealtaine Fire Festival, held on Saturday, also offered a talk on prehistoric astronomy, poetry and storytelling, music and drumming before the procession began at sundown.
Irish Independent
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Mayo nursing home residents experience virtual tour Irish heritage sides
Global VAM, a Belmullet-based XR company that specialises in creating immersive experiences, worked closely with the OPW on the initiative at St Attracta's, which allowed them to virtually tour sites including the Céide Fields, the Battle of the Boyne, Newgrange and Kilkenny Castle. General Manager St Attracta's Residence, Trina Donohue, described the initiative as 'a resounding success'. ' This development in technology has amazing potential for those who are unable to travel as much as they did before and can really bring the world into their home.' This initiative, in recognition of 'National Arts in Nursing Home Day' is part of a broader programme of events taking place at OPW sites across the month of May for the annual Bealtaine Festival. Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, Kevin 'Boxer' Moran said that on Friday, 23 May, all fee-paying heritage sites across Ireland will offer free admission to senior citizens, to encourage 'greater engagement with Ireland's rich cultural and historical heritage'.
RTÉ News
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
RTÉ is Supporting 28 Arts and Cultural Events all over Ireland this May
This May, RTÉ is delighted to support Bealtaine Festival, Fastnet Film Festival, and Dublin Dance Festival, along with 25 other arts and cultural events all over Ireland spanning theatre, film, literature, music, opera, dance, festivals, exhibitions and more. Bealtaine Festival, Ireland's national celebration of the arts and creativity as we age, is celebrating 30 years with events across the month. Fastnet Film Festival will focus on the craft of filmmaking, hosting seminars, workshops and masterclasses with industry experts on all aspects of the film industry. Dublin Dance Festival will feature bold new performances from Irish artists and leading choreographic voices from around the world. Arts and Minds, Maynooth University's annual celebration of the best in Irish and international arts and culture events, will include performances by Irish National Opera and movie screenings with acclaimed directors. Writers, artists and poets will congregate in the beautiful heritage town of Listowe in County Kerry for Writers Week Literary Festival, while Cavan Arts Festival will present a diverse range of arts and cultural experiences in the heart of Cavan Town. The annual island-wide celebration of poetry, Poetry Day Ireland, will also take place on Thursday 1st May, with the theme May Day. A host of music festivals will also take place across the country. In Tipperary, SCS Killaloe Music Festival will take place, in Offaly, Birr Festival of Music will host an array of classical music performances, and Galway Early Music Festival will host concerts, immersive musical journeys, workshops, and a multitude of local and international artists. West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival and Marble City Music Festival in Kilkenny will present a diverse programme of concerts that is sure to delight audiences, and in Waterford, Blackwater Valley Opera Festival will present A Midsummer Night's Dream. Music for Wexford Summer/Autumn Series will commence its annual series of recitals by both Irish and international musicians. Crash Ensemble and Chamber Choir Ireland will present: Jóhann Jóhannsson: Drone Mass in Limerick, Letterkenny and Dublin. In Cork, Cork International Choral Festival and Open Ear music festival will take place. LOVESONG by Abi Morgan will take to the stage at The Gate Theatre, and Dublin International Piano Competition will bring the world's top young pianists to Ireland to compete. There are also a range of exhibitions taking place, from Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone | The Art of Friendship in Dublin's National Gallery, to Words on the Wave: Ireland and St. Gallen in Early Medieval Europe, Changing Ireland and Dead Zoo at Large, at the National Museum. IMMA Collection: Art as Agency also continues this month. For more information about the events we are supporting this month, check out the websites listed below: Dublin and Cork Forgotten Peoples | Dublin Dublin International Piano Competition | Wexford Music for Wexford Summer/Autumn Series | Kerry Writers Week Literary Festival | Galway Galway Early Music Festival | Dublin Lovesong at The Gate | Dublin Changing Ireland | Dublin Dead Zoo at Large | Nationwide Dublin Abbey Theatre | Every year, RTÉ supports 170 arts and cultural events all over Ireland through the RTÉ Supporting the Arts scheme. Spanning film, music, dance, opera, festivals, literature, theatre and exhibitions, and with dedicated promotion on RTÉ's television, radio and digital services, and extensive support across RTÉ's social channels, the RTÉ Supporting the Arts scheme is a lifeline to Ireland's creative and cultural sectors.
