Bealtaine Festival Roscommon events take place during the month of May 2022, celebrating the arts and creativity as we age. Events are programmed by Roscommon County Council Arts Office in collaboration with Age & Opportunity, artists and communities.
From a Boyle perspective, a special event will take place in King House on Sunday 29th May at 2pm and will celebrate the launch of ‘The Return’ by Helen B Grehan – a book of selected poems and songs. Music will be supplied by Helen & Frances Grehan and friends. Published by Drunk Muse Press and edited by Jessamine O Connor.
There will also be an informal Coffee Concert on Friday 23rd May at 12 noon at King House Boyle by participants in the Roscommon Making Music Programme with ‘The Unwanted’ musicians Cathy Jordan, Rick Epping and Seamie O’Dowd. A partnership by Roscommon Arts Office, King House and Music Network, 15 participants have embarked on a 5 month journey to rediscover music making on bodhran, guitar and harmonica.
A number of places are still available on the Creative Conversations programme ongoing throughout the month of May. Short creative engagements between artists and participants in a nursing home, health centre or a household age 65+. Options include Gardening, The Language of Flowers/Artwork, Creative Writing & Reading, Music, French Poetry, Exploring Your Creativity. To book, contact [email protected]. Telephone 090 6637 271.
Other events include – Mo Scéal takes place at Trinity Arts Centre, Castlerea. An exhibition of art, stories and memorabilia by local women with reminiscence artist, Veronica O’Connor. Music, film & refreshments from 7-9pm on Thursday 5th May.
Artist Emma Brennan will lead a four-week Movement with Music workshop each Friday during May. 11am in Trinity Arts Centre, Castlerea. 2pm in Moore Hall, Ballydangan. To book, contact [email protected]. Telephone 090 6637 271.
In Memory of Cloth is a 3 Day Workshop with artists Frances Crowe and Jessamine O’Connor at Roscommon Arts Centre. Words and sayings will be explored with writer Jessamine O’Connor and transferred by embroidery or carbon paper onto old linen or found fabrics with fibre artist Frances Crowe. 10.30am-12.30pm Thursday 12th May/ Friday 13th May/ Tuesday 17th May.
Tickets are free, booking is essential via Roscommon Arts Centre box office- 090 6625 824.
Roscommon Arts Office has engaged Festival in a Van and local musicians to perform outdoors at six Nursing Homes throughout the county on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th May 2022. Residents will invite family and friends to join them for this highly anticipated outdoor gig!
Arts Officer Rhona McGrath and National Artistic Director of Bealtaine Festival, Dr Tara Byrne commented: “Bealtaine has always been a celebration of life, but in 2022 our events take on a particular meaning as we meet each other once more in person and across the county and country with a renewed sense of our in(ter) dependence, the Bealtaine Festival theme again this year.”
The Bealtaine National Programme is offering a series of free online events:
Ballads & Beyond with singer songwriter Ger Wolfe – a series of three online workshops exploring the world of popular ballads and beyond. Come along and sing your heart out in this online singing session while at the same time learning the background to some favourites from the deep well of song. This is a series of three workshops throughout May. Full event details and booking: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/ballads-beyond-tickets-311841776147
Jigmap with artist Claire Halpin – mixed media workshops to explore image, picture, collage, painting and composition. Over three workshops participants will experiment using found printed materials in different ways – transforming, reversing, cutting, repeating, layering and drawing and painting to create their own artworks. Full event details and booking: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/jigmap-mixed-media-collage-workshop-tickets-291204509527
Keep an eye on the national Bealtaine website and Facebook page for information, updates and the full list of online events around the country:
https://bealtaine.ie/events_2022/ and https://www.facebook.com/Bealtainefestival/
Full details of Bealtaine Festival Roscommon events at http://www.roscommoncoco.ie/en/services/community/arts-office/news.html
Bealtaine – Celebrating the Arts and Creativity as we age…
