Bealtaine 2014

Bealtaine 2014 – Mayo County Council Arts Office

The month of May belongs to the Bealtaine festival, celebrating creativity as we age!   Over 120,000 people nationwide now take part in the festival and activities range from dance to cinema, painting to theatre, Bealtaine showcases the talents and creativity of both first-time and professional older artists.

Each year, Age & Opportunity invites local authorities, arts centres, libraries, Active Retirement groups, care settings, community groups and clubs, associations from every part of the country to run Bealtaine events that celebrate creativity as we age.

The theme for Bealtaine 2014 is ‘And catch the heart off guard’, a phrase from Seamus Heaney's poem Postscript. It is an invitation to be surprised by joy, to astonish yourself, to find your heart’s desire without looking for it.

The festival is in its 19^th year in Mayo and Mayo County Council Arts Office is please to announce a diverse programme of events for Bealtaine 2014.  Bealtaine aims to involve older people in the arts, through expression and active participation. It also encourages older people to engage as an experienced audience for all art forms. 

Please contact us at 094-9024444 Ext 7558 or mayoarts@mayococo.ie if you would like more information or a brochure. 

During May 2014 Mayo County Council Arts Office will be programming a number of events with Active Retirement Associations throughout Mayo as well as some of the community nursing units throughout the county. 

The main features of this year’s programme are:

The Iona Connection – Intergenerational Music Exchange Workshop

Scots fiddler Alasdair Fraser, Californian cellist Natalie Haas and Donegal fiddler and singer Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh are the Iona Connection and in their forthcoming tour they will explore the connections between traditional Irish, Scottish and Old Time American music. As part of Bealtaine in Mayo this year, Mayo Arts Office will be working with Music Generation Mayo, Music Network and Age and Opportunity to bring you a special Intergenerational ‘Music Exchange’ workshop opportunity with the Iona Connection. 

The exchanges invite young (8 to 18 years) and older (adult) musicians with an interest in traditional/folk music to book in pairs for a ‘musical sharing’ between the generations and between amateur & professional musicians. The Mayo exchange workshops will take place at the Linenhall Arts Centre on Wednesday May 14 from 4.30 to 6pm.  This is a free event but booking is essential as numbers are limited. 

The exchange workshop will be followed by a performance by the Iona Connection in the Linenhall Arts Centre at 8pm.  Pairs attending the music exchange workshop can avail of a special combined ticket - €20 (admits 1 adult & 1 young person (8-18 years)).  For further information and bookings please contactMusic Generation Mayo 094-9024188 (ext 249) | info@musicgenerationmayo.ie . 

Artsquad at Féile na Tuaithe

In partnership, Mayo County Council Arts Office, Mayo Artsquad, The National Museum of Ireland – Country Life and local artists will work on site-specific projects as part of Feile na Tuaithe in May. The art works created on site will directly reference the museum’s collection.  The theme for this year’s event is Traditional Farmhouse Fare ‘Farm to Plate’ and the work will be sited at the museum over the Féile weekend, May 24^th & 25^th . 

Community Weaving Project in O’Dwyer Arts Centre

Artist & Facilitator Merovee Guerin will be working at the O’Dwyer Arts Centre, Lismirrane, to create a Community Tapestry with members of the Kiltimagh Tuesday Club, residents from the O’Dwyer/Cheshire Home and visitors to the O’Dwyer Arts Centre.  The weaving frame will be at the centre from May 8^th – June 5^th and Merovee will be on hand on each Thursday to offer instruction. 

Choral Workshops with Harmonia

Since graduating from UCC Music Department Alan Leech has worked as a professional tenor and voice coach. He has performed in both opera and concert with most of Ireland’s ensembles. He has been a full time tenor with the National Chamber Choir of Ireland, as well as facilitating on their various outreach workshops.  He currently lectures in Voice, Aural Skills and Choral Conducting at the Leinster School of Music’s H Dip in Music Education. He will be working with Harmonia, Retired Teachers Choir during Bealtaine 2014. 

Exhibition Project with Moygownagh Women’s Group

Bernie Garvey O’Mara will be working with Moygownagh Women’s Group to curate a special exhibition this May.  The group will explore and select a number of works from Mayo County Council Collection. The exhibition will be launched on May 1^st at the Women of the North West Centre, Moygownagh and will run throughout the month of May. 

Artwork and Music in Community Nursing Units (CNU’s)

During the month of May the Arts Office will be working with the Community Nursing Unit’s who participated in Mayo County Council’s Arts and Health Programme. The visits will provide an opportunity to view a DVD presentation of art work created by residents who were involved in this programme, followed by music by Mayo harpist Gráinne Hambly. 

Artwork in the Libraries

Artwork from the Mayo County Council Artists’ Mentoring & Networking Programme will be displayed as screen-savers on public PC’s in a number library branches during the month of May.  The works displayed were created by residents at the D’Alton CNU in Claremorris, Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar, St Augustine’s CNU in Ballina, St. Colman’s CNU in Achill and McBride CNU in Westport.  Keep an eye out for work at participating libraries throughout the festival.  

Arts venues throughout the county as well as Mayo County Council Library Service will also have a variety of events on offer during Bealtaine ranging from talks to workshops, films to performances and much more; full listings of these events are included in this brochure along with a list of the arts activities taking place during May organised by the ARA groups and CNU’s. 

Mayo County Council Arts Office would like to thank, most sincerely, all the venues, groups and individuals associated with the Bealtaine Festival 2014 in Mayo.

All details of the programme are listed in the Bealtaine brochure which is available from the Arts Office.  Please contact us at 094-9024444 Ext 7558 | 7471 or mayoarts@mayococo.ie if you would like more information or a brochure.