Bealtaine – a time to celebrate creativity in older age

CLARE Arts Office is calling on the public to support Bealtaine, the national festival organised by Age and Opportunity, celebrating creativity in older age.
The arts office has organised a number of events throughout the county, specifically for older people as well as working with a number of organisations and artists to provide events that highlight the creative work older people are involved in all year round.
This year’s schedule features exhibitions, concerts, puppet shows, films, theatre and poetry readings.
The highlight of the first week of Bealtaine is a free concert organised by the arts office in Glór, this Friday. The concert, taking place at 12 noon, will feature singer Kate Purcell and balladeer Bernard O’Shea. They will be joined by the much-loved musician Chris Droney as well as Paddy Hynes, storyteller, from Carron.
The opening exhibition is Still Life and Living, an exhibition by well-known Clarecastle artist, Frances Bailey. She is exhibiting in the foyer of the County Museum until May 22. This venue will then host artworks from Clarecastle Day Care Centre clients from May 25 to June 5.
Further events during the month are the Embrace Exhibition at Glór from May 3 to 22, with the arts office presenting an exhibition of work produced by people with disabilities from throughout the county through the Embrace programme. The wide variety of artwork featured represents a selection from participating groups such as The Brothers of Charity, Dulick Enterprise Centre, Kilrush Orchard Workshop and Clare Mental Health Association. Now in its tenth year, the Embrace scheme is supported by Clare County Council and the Arts Council.
From May 10 to June 11, there will be an exhibition of work from Raheen Woods Day Care Centre, Tuamgraney. This will feature a selection of multi-disciplinary work by visitors to the centre spanning the last three years of its art programme with co-ordinator Nicola Henley.
Poet Carlos Reyes will read from his work on May 20 at 11.30pm in the deValera Library, Ennis and in Scariff Public Library at 3pm.
On Friday, May 21 from 2.30 to 3.30pm, there will be a performance by singer Kate Purcell, Bernard O’Shea, Paddy Hynes and Chris Droney for the nursing-home residents at Carrigoran Nursing Home, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
On Saturday, May 22 at 8pm, a concert in honor of Seán Ó Reid’s life and work, featuring Ceoltóirí Chilean, Seán Ó Ré, Peadar Ó Riada agus Cór Chúil Aodha and singers, dancers and musicians from Clare and beyond, will be held.
Sorcha Curtain and friends will perform for clients of the Ennistymon Daycare Centre on Monday, May 24.
The Fleadh Nua begins in Ennis on Friday, May 28 with events including the Aos Óg Concert and the Fleadh Nua Celebrity Concert.
Seeing and Dreaming, a production by the Dog and String Theatre Company will take place in the Aistear Building in Tuamgraney on May 28.
On Wednesday, May 26, Bealtaine and Seven Seas Active presents Dean Spanley, a film based on a little-known 1936 novella by the Irish author Baron Dunsany.