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

This May, DDF shares dance that takes a stand, ditches convention and claims its strength. Dance that embraces the lows, celebrates the highs and welcomes our future. This year, dance demands to be heard. It’s time to DANCE OUT LOUD. The Dublin Dance Festival believes in the power of dance to move, connect and inspire change. With so much of Ireland’s culture tied up in language and the past, dance has a unique power to explore and express what it is to be human, right now.

Sometimes in a gesture, or in a turn of phrase, sometimes in the scent of hairspray, or glimpsed in an old photograph, a person reappears. ​In this evocative and moving show, writer-performer Michelle Read collaborates with composer Brian Keegan, to recreate the experience of remembering her mother, Margaret, through fragments and glimpses of her life. ​‘Keegan’s atmospheric music unspools throughout… full of affection and warmth’ Irish Independent Margaret lived with Alzheimers and loved to walk by the coast. Michelle uses the things she has left of her mum, including pho

Set in a working-class suburb of South Dublin, the play centres around JT O’Brien and his father Stephen “Buzzer” O’Brien as they deal with the recent death of JT’s mother Marie. Both BoyFace and Standard Practice Productions are award winning production companies in the world of cinema. This is the first theatre production for both companies, who hope to provide an entertaining and poignant look into modern Dublin, the power of memory and the inevitability of change. Age 15+

In the heart of Dublin, a group of curious 10-year-olds from all over the city gather to give a fáilte chroíúil to 10-year-old Amal. The children have been preparing for her arrival and have imagined heartfelt, generous, and genuine ways to welcome her in a way she will understand.  The children will present Amal with a bespoke hand-crafted bracelet embossed with their words of welcome in many languages.  Led by the wonder-full and imaginative Branar with performer Zita Monahan, this event features music composed and performed live by Colm Mac Con Iomaire, and bracelet design and ma

Tired, alone and overwhelmed in Dublin City, Amal stops for a little solace. Her attention is caught by bird-like creatures at the park gates. Entering the park to explore, she follows these sprites and suddenly  finds herself immersed in  stories about Irish myth, swans and ravens from multi-award winning dance company Junk Ensemble. With support from the International Literature Festival, Dublin. Learn more the story of Little Amal : www.walkwithamal.org

As the sun sets on the City, Amal is lulled across the Samuel Beckett Bridge by waves of voices led by Tonnta Music and friends.  As night falls, we come together to bid farewell and safe travels for Little Amal, lit by words of love in all our city’s many spoken languages. Soothing choral vocals, Las Leas Léas featuring  words written by Manchán Magan, lead Amal safely across the bridge to bed. Come along and add your voice. Learn more the story of Little Amal : www.walkwithamal.org

Dublin is in a time of crisis. Rents sky-rocketing, houses turning to hotels, tech conglomerates spreading like wildfire. But don’t worry, the government has a plan to save us... and its called DublinLand! In the near future, the Taoiseach announces that they have sold Dublin to corporate investors who plan on turning it into a Dublin-themed theme park, offering an experience as “more Irish than Ireland itself.” At the press conference launching the scheme, the Taoiseach and the billionaire who bought the city explain why this dystopian plan is in fact a great advancement for industry

Five people gather to take part in a drama class in a small-town community centre. Over the course of six weeks, Marty, James, Schultz, Theresa and Lauren participate in a series of games that entangle and unite them in hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking ways. Circle Mirror Transformation is a meditation on theatre and life and death and the passing of time. Tender, disarming and unexpected, Annie Baker’s immaculate play has been called ‘absorbing, unblinking and sharply funny’ by The New York Times.Gate Theatre Artistic Director Róisín McBrinn returns to direct following her critic