Offaly launched ninth Bealtaine festival
Offaly's ninth annual Bealtaine Festival was officially launched last week at Belmont Mill. The festival, which runs throughout May and celebrates creativity as people age, is a nationwide one. Events taking place in Offaly during the month-long festival include concerts, workshops, exhibitions and more. At last week's launch Kitty Galvin of Belmont High Street Active Retirement Association presented Chairperson of Offaly County Council Danny Owens with a collaborative work created by the group with artist Caroline Conway during a previous festival entitled 'The Tree of Life' to recognise the council's support of the festival over the past decade. Accepting the presentation Cllr Owens said it will be treasured for many years and will go on display at Aras an Chontae for the month of May before then going on permanent display in Ferbane library. Libraries feature strongly in the Bealtaine Festival line-up, providing venues for many of the festival's events. Clara library hosts a festival table quiz on Wednesday of this week, while yesterday an exhibition of work by Ferbane Art Group was launched at Ferbane library by Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy. Offaly libraries are also offering free internet access to those over the age of 55 for the month of May, and a full line-up of Bealtaine events in libraries can be found at www.offaly.ie/libraries. Meanwhile Bealtaine performances at Birr Theatre include Liam Lawton on May 8 and Ivan Illic on May 18. Charleville Castle will also host a festival event on May 5, with music from opera and musicals. Birr Active Retirement Group has planned a tea dance at Dooley's Hotel in Birr on May 8, while Shannonbridge Active Retirement Association will host a social afternoon of music, song and dance entitled 'It's Never too Late to Start Living' on May 6. The Anam Beo annual exhibition will open on May 10 in Aras an Chontae. A full line-up of festival events in Offaly is available at www.offaly.ie/arts or www.bealtaine.com, or by calling Offaly's arts office on 057 9357400.