Bealtaine programme for 2014 celebrating creativity in older people can be viewed here

2014 Bealtaine Brochure

Cavan Springs to Life During Bealtaine

Bealtaine is the annual arts festival celebrating creativity in older people. Cavan County Council is delighted to announce its programme of events for the month of May.   This year’s programme features music, art exhibitions, creative writing readings, creative activity sessions, drama, crafts, book launch, knitting and flower arranging workshops, reminiscence sessions and intergenerational workshops.

This year Cavan Arts Office, Libraries, County Museum and Social Inclusion Unit have collaborated with local arts and craft providers to bring the array of talent in County Cavan to community centres, nursing home and council buildings.   Many of the events are free and take place in settings where older people congregate, such as day care services and nursing homes, while other events are in public venues and open to everyone.

Cavan County Council is currently running a programme of European work placements for artists, funded under the Leonardo da Vinci Lifelong Learning Programme. Some of the artists who have  returned from their placement are delivering performances/workshops with older people’s groups during Bealtaine. For instance, trainees at the National Learning Network will give readings from their own creative writing in Esker Lodge Nursing Home, and writers Kate Ennals and Kay Carmichael visited St Joseph’s Nursing Home in Virginia on the bank holiday.

Blanaid Boyle, Cavan Town Branch Comhaltas said that ‘twelve young members from Comhaltas visited Virginia Primary Health Care Centre and really enjoyed the experience of performing for the older audience, the Grupaí Cheoil are looking forward to their next recital at St Christopher’s Hospice’.

• An exhibition by Cavan Traveller Primary Health Care Programme in Bailieborough library with photos, stories and real life experiences reflecting the heritage and culture of Travellers in Cavan.
• The Song Sisters will perform music from their production ‘The Hollywood Canteen’ in five venues across the county in full costume and make-up.
• Frank Pig Says Hello by Pat Mc Cabe, will be performed by Kim Mc Cafferty and Ray Fitzsimons, directed by Kieron Smith on Saturday 31 May at Cavan Town Hall.   This promises to be a totally engaging night of theatre on its return from Scotland as part of the Rep Season at Coatbridge College.   Frank Pig remains one of the most popular of Pat Mc Cabe’s back catalogue of theatre gems.
• The ‘Shades of Life’ Art Exhibition runs in Johnston Central Library until 16 May featuring

Aside from local authority events, many other groups in Cavan run activities during May for the festival. Positive Age will host their annual arts and crafts display, followed by a performance by The Hacklers of an excerpt of the Samuel Beckett Play ‘Happy Days’. At the very end of May, members of Cavan Older Person’s Forum and Cavan O5O Network will perform a ‘Dawn Chorus’ on the banks the lake at Mountnugent, kindly sponsored by Crover House Hotel. This takes place on Sunday 25 May at 7 o’clock in the morning. All welcome.

The full programme of events is available in hard copy from the Arts Office, libraries and front desk of the Council offices, Farnham Centre.

For further information contact Catriona O’Reilly or Joanne Gorman Arts Office Tel (049) 437 8548

or Emer Coveney, Social Inclusion Unit Tel (049) 437 8581