Bealtaine Festival this May at Central Library

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Are you over 55 and would you like to try something new, then come along to Central Library this May to celebrate Bealtaine, the Irish national arts festival celebrating creativity in older age. It takes place countrywide in May and involves hundreds of events in every art form. Taking its name from the ancient Celtic festival celebrating springtime, Bealtaine celebrates renewal, creativity and growth in ageing. Bealtaine is co-ordinated by Age & Opportunity - the national agency working to promote greater participation by older people in society.

At Central Library this May there are workshops in gardening, art and clay modelling, a digital photography course, an interactive play, poetry readings, talks on researching your family tree, meditation and health, exhibitions and a creative writing competition. All events are free to members but booking is essential.

 ‘Gardening for Colour’ with Margaret Power from the Abbey Road Gardens, Ferrybank

Thursday 13 May 3-5pm - Summer Bulbs in Pots

Thursday 27 May 3-5pm - Summer Window Boxes

Workshops are free to members. Booking is essential.

Watercolour/Oil Art Workshops on Tuesdays with local artist and art teacher, Fergus Dillon

If you would like to explore your artistic side then this four week course is for you.

Tuesdays 10.30am-12.30pm – 4, 11, 18, 25 May

Course is free to members. Booking is essential.

Digital Photography Course with Valerie Stone

A five week course covering basic digital camera functions, composing chosen objects/subjects, transferring images to a computer, saving and preparation for printing.

Mondays 3pm-5pm - 10, 17, 24, 31 May and Tuesday 3pm-5 pm 1 June

Course is free to members. Booking is essential.

Index Gallery Exhibition

Seniors Art Exhibition running 17-29 May in Central Library Index Gallery curated by tutor Berna Lawton.

Healthy Mind – Healthy Body with therapists Dolores Legros and Lisa Smith-Everett 

A series of information talks on improving the health of your mind and body.

Friday 14 May 3-4pm – Meditation

Friday 21 May 3-4pm - Detox your Body

Talks are free to members. Booking is essential.

Clay Modelling Workshop with Maeve Collins

Each workshop will focus on memories of images of Waterford and transferring them to clay.

Thursday 27 May 10.30am–12.30pm

Friday 28 May 10.30am–12.30pm

Friday 28 May 3-5pm

Workshops are free to members. Booking is essential.

Interactive Drama with Carnation Theatre

‘Carnation Goes West’ is a two hander interactive play where story telling, shared memory, songs, poetry and jokes are woven into a plot. 

Wednesday 26 May 2-3pm

Attendance is free to members. Booking is essential.

Trace your Family Tree

Staff from the Library’s Local Studies Department will give a talk on how to start your family tree.

Wednesday 12 May 11.30am–12.30pm

Talk is free to members. Booking is essential.

Poetry Reading by poet, Patrick Moran

Winner of the Gerard Manley Hopkins Poetry Prize and shortlisted for the Hennessy / Sunday Tribune poetry award, Patrick Moran will read from his latest works.

Wednesday 12 May 6pm

Reading is free to members. Booking is essential.

Creative Writing Competition

Could you be an author? Get your creative juices flowing and let out the scribe in you! Write a short story based on the theme of this year’s festival ‘Have dreams and speak them without fear’.

All entries to be submitted by Friday 28 May 6:00pm to Brown’s Road or Monday 31 May 5:30pm to Ardkeen or Central Libraries

For further information or to book for any of the events please contact:

Central Library, Lady Lane on 051 849975 or djohnston@waterfordcity.ie