CULTURE Mayo embraces creativity and age with Bealtaine

WALK IN THEIR SHOES?Collected stories from older people living in rural Sligo inspired Mikel Murfi’s ‘The Man in the Woman’s Shoes’, which will be staged at The Linenhall on May 30.

Mayo embraces creativity  and age with Bealtaine 


Ireland’s national celebration of creativity as we age, Bealtaine, takes place during the month of May. This year, the festival will see hundreds of theatrical, cinematic, craft, photographic, choral, dance and other events taking place across Ireland, inviting everyone to ‘Grow Happy!’ – the theme of this year’s festival – and the Mayo offering is as strong as ever.
Award-winning actor and writer Mikel Murfi is bringing his show ‘The Man in the Woman’s Shoes’ to The Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, on May 30, as part of the festival. Last year, Mikel met with older people across Sligo to gather stories for this show. He saw a pattern emerge of ‘characters’ that inhabit Sligo villages – and probably every village in Ireland.
The show follows Pat Farnon as he walks from his cottage to town and back again, and the marvels that he meets along the way. It’s a charming encounter with an ageing man still with a boundless enthusiasm for life. Hilariously funny and tender by turns, the story Mikel wrote asks us to find the common humanity in our fellow man and woman and to show kindness at every opportunity. It also asks us to consider that romantic love is not the preserve of the young.
Ballina Active Age Group will organise a visit to the newly opened Jackie Clarke Collection followed by tea and scones, on May 15. The collection showcases over 400 years of historical Irish memorabilia, the lifetime collection of the late Jackie Clarke. The 100,000-plus items include an original copy of the 1916 Easter Proclamation and a cockade affixed to the hat of 1798 leader Wolfe Tone. This is a free event, open to the public. For details, contact Nan Healy on 086 3547971.
The festival kicks off in Áras Inis Gluaire, Belmullet, on at 3pm on Wednesday, May 8, with the opening of the Art in the Afternoon Showcase – a collection of paintings by a group of men who have been painting at the arts centre every Monday afternoon. Tea and coffee will be provided, and Micheal S Togher will lead a sing song afterwards. Also opening at the centre on the same day is an exhibition by Amanda Jane Graham, ‘A Tribute to the Irish Community, Montana’.
At 6.30pm on Thursday, May 16, Áras Inis Gluaire will host a concert by The Whistleblast Quartet, who will perform a selection of classical and popular tunes from The Pink Panther to Bizet. Thursday, May 23, will see a performance by comedy duo, The Gombeens (Jonathan Gunning and Miquel Barceló).
The Cois Tine Heritage Group of Kilmovee, Ballaghaderreen, is working to preserve Ireland’s cultural heritage. This Bealtaine, the groups’ members want to get an insight into the richness of the country’s music, song, dance and storytelling traditions in order to pass on this legacy to younger generations. On May 6 they will launch their festival with music, song and dance; on May 8, they will hold a craft Morning; and on May 15 they will host a recital by young musicians, dancers and singers, and a presentation of prizes to local school children for an art and essay competition. For more informatin, contact Breege Moran on 086 8641738.
Lake District Bealtaine Festival will include storytelling with film, photos and a variety show at the Crannmor Training Centre, Neale Rd, Ballinrobe. In Castlebar, Le Cheile Community and Family Resource Centre, Tucker Street, will host a health and wellbeing morning, including a talk on how being creative and taking part in arts activities can be positive for health & well-being from 11am to 1pm.
St Colman’s Care Centre, Keel, Achill, will hold a tea dance in Ostan Oilean, Acla, on May 15, celebrating Bealtaine and The Gathering for Achill residents and a visiting group from the Manchester Irish Community Care Centre in the UK.
On the last weekend of May, the Association of Irish Choirs and Active Retirement Ireland are encouraging choirs throughout the country to sing in every county at dawn on Sunday,  May 26, in the Dawn Chorus event. In Mayo, The Ballina-Moy Singers are organising the Moy Singers Dawn Chorus in Newbridge, overlooking the River Moy. For details contact Miriam Lavelle on 086 3306543. In addition, Mayo International Choral Festival are organising Castlebar Dawn Chorus in Lough Lannagh Car Park. For further information on this event contact Declan Durcan on 086 2658038.

To get involved in Bealtaine 2013 or for more information, visit www.bealtaine.com – for full, up-to-date event listings, email bealtaine@ageandopportunity.ie or phone 01 8535178.