Bealtaine is Ireland’s national festival which celebrates the arts and creativity as we age. The festival is run by Age & Opportunity, the leading national development organisation working to enable the best possible quality of life for us all as we age. This year Age & Opportunity unveils an all-new festival theme, ‘Lust for Life’, which reflects a familiar experience for many older people. To celebrate the theme Bealtaine Festival has commissioned a new essay, ‘Lust of Life’, by writer, former Labour TD and Bealtaine Festival ambassador, Liz McManus, which explores the n

Karl is part of a self-help group. He's still getting over a break-up. Thirty years later. He has to care for his elderly mother. Can things get any worse? You bet. He wants to try stand-up comedy again. A show about an ailing Irish mother. American movie stars. Group therapy over failed show business dreams and the prospect of a second chance... • Wednesday May 8th at 1pm • Thursday May 9th at 7.30pm Presented as part of Bealtaine, Celebrating Arts & Creativity As We Age *Lunchtime tickets include tea/coffee Galway-born Karl MacDermott is a comedy performer and h

Opera. Movies. Book Readings. Live Music. Photographic Exhibition. Irish-Language Events. Discussion. Street Food. There's a feast of culture at Maynooth University’s annual Arts and Minds festival. Concession tickets available for Students/Unwaged/Senior Citizens/MU Alumni. Full programme listing here. The festival begins on Thursday, 9th with a concert version of Vivaldi's opera, L'Olimpiade courtesy of Irish National Opera. Our collaboration with Maynooth Film For All continues on Friday 10th with a screening of the award-winning movie, Ballywalter starring Maynooth graduate, Seána