Bealtaine is the national celebration of arts and creativity in older age. Cork County Council has launched its Bealtaine programme, featuring a selection of free talks, workshops and events taking place in libraries across the county. The programme is supported by the Arts Council, Age Friendly Programme and Creative Ireland.
Free workshops are available throughout the month of May in all Cork County Libraries. From crafting, creative writing, crime writing and poetry to foraging, puppetry, photography and music, Bealtaine is the time to learn a new skill. All workshops are free, all materials are supplied and no experience is required.
Events on the West Cork Islands include a Forage walk and workshop on Sherkin Island in association with the Sherkin Library, with Samuel Arnold Keane on 8th May, where participants will walk out with the tide, discover duileasc, sleabhac and kelps and explore ancestral stories and contemporary uses for seaweed. In Oileán Chléire Library on 14th May, participants can experience one of the oldest forms of string puppetry. The wooden carved characters of dancers, magicians and jugglers depict the Mughal palaces of North India from over 600 years ago. Attendees may participate or simply watch and enjoy.
Writing workshops include Let’s Talk Crime in Charleville and Mitchelstown Libraries with award winning crime novelist Casey King (Marie O’Halloran), who will offer guidance on writing a novel, developing ideas and submitting work to agents and editors. Stories Among Friends in Mallow and Fermoy Libraries support participants in discovering their writing voice, whether preserving memories, beginning a short story or writing poetry. A Life Writing workshop with award winning author and poet David McLoghlin takes place in Carrigaline Library, exploring memory, storytelling and personal history. In Newmarket Library, Laura O’Mahony will explore storytelling techniques, character development and bringing ideas to life on the page.
Visual Arts and Craft workshops include Dreamcatcher Weaving with Julie Forrester in Macroom, Millstreet and Skibbereen Libraries. Áine Farrell’s Ceramics workshop in Cobh Library, Lust for Life, teaches participants to make unique 2D mixed media pictures and colourful 3D paper flowers. Attendees can create their own individual artwork with well-known West Cork Artist Deirdre Crowley in Bandon Library.
Wet felting workshops with visual artist Catherine Callanan in Midleton and Youghal Libraries will guide participants through creating a unique felted landscape piece, while a Drawing Workshop with Fiona Boniwell in Kanturk Library introduces practical warm‑up techniques for drawing and relaxed contour drawing.
A hands‑on Smartphone Photography Workshop with photographer Chris Finnegan takes place in Clonakilty Library, introducing lighting, composition and styling for professional‑looking images.
Music workshops will also take place across libraries with Kevin McNally and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
The Bealtaine Talks Programme focuses on creativity and aging, featuring writers and media personalities. Meet authors Madeline D’Arcy and Kate Barry in Macroom Library, writers and podcasters Cónal Creedon and Mairéad Herne O'Driscoll from Two for the Road in Creedon’s Hotel, Inchigeela and Ray Cuddihy with an inspiring guest in Mallow Library. More speakers will be announced.
Participants should contact their library by phone, email or in-person to book their place at any event.
No comments:
Post a Comment