Bealtaine Gathering 2024

Tickets for The Bealtaine Gathering 2024 are now on sale. Presented by Age & Opportunity, the annual get together of Bealtaine event organisers will take place on Tuesday 22nd October (10am to 4:30pm) in Project Arts Centre.

Just announced! The keynote speaker will be award-winning writer and founder of Narrative 4, Colum McCann, speaking on radical empathy and the potential for social change. 

In recognition of ongoing political and social upheavals, this year’s Bealtaine Gathering will focus on the critical theme of Solidarity. The Bealtaine community of organisers, artists, partners, local authorities and supporters, are invited to join Age & Opportunity in looking at Solidarity as a driving force and foundation for their work.  

Age & Opportunity also hope to provide inspiration for events and information on planning for Bealtaine Festival’s upcoming 30th anniversary.

Dr. Tara Byrne, Arts Programme Manager and Bealtaine Artistic Director, Age & Opportunity, said: “we are living in such turbulent times which are inevitably reflected in our work. As such, for this Gathering we really wanted to represent that and hope that the Bealtaine community will come away from the day with new ways to consider their work, as well as more insight into the transformative potential of such a deeply rooted community festival.” 

Topics and speakers

• Introduction by Dr. Tara Byrne, Arts Programme Manager and Bealtaine Festival Artistic Director, Age & Opportunity

• Keynote address, On Radical Empathy, writer Colum McCann

• Case studies: The No Show by aritst Grace Dyas and Catherine O’Halloran of Limerick City Build and Tales My Granny Told Me by poet Keith Payne and a participant from the project.

• Performance by poet Stephen James Smith

• Panel discussion: Bealtaine at the Library and harnessing the power of collaboration across local authorities.

• Panel discussion: Solidarity is a Verb Chaired by Mary Moynihan, Director of Smashing Times and featuring artists and activists: Donal O’Kelly, Emma O’Grady and Grace Dyas.

A light lunch will be provided as part of your ticket.

Whether you regularly organise Bealtaine events or haven’t had the opportunity for a number of years, we very much welcome you to join us for the Bealtaine Gathering 2024. We especially welcome smaller groups, individuals, artists, care setting representatives, as well as representatives of local authorities and arts organisations. 

Tickets for the day are €15/10* with lunch provided. For full details and to book see Bealtaine.ie. 

*if cost is a factor in accessing this event, please get in touch with: arts@ageandopportunity.ie or 01 9133921.