Bealtaine Festival, Ireland's national arts festival "celebrating arts and creativity as we age," returns for May 2024, with an open call for participants.

The festival is calling out nationwide for individuals and arts organizations of all kinds to join in the celebration set to unfold across Ireland throughout the month of May. 

Events can range from music and choral performances to visual art, theatre, writing workshops, dance, literature, circus, discussions on aging diversity, film screenings, storytelling and much more. 

This year's festival theme, ‘Lust for Life’, 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 newfound vitality and appreciation for life that often accompanies later years.

Bealtaine is seeking innovative ideas that capture the essence of this theme and invites participants to explore and celebrate the joy of living when planning events for registration. The full excerpt of 'Lust for Life’, is available to read on Bealtaine.ie.  

With an exciting, ever-growing lineup of events soon to be announced, ‘Prom Night’ is revealed as just a taste of what festivalgoers can expect. Hosted in partnership with Street 66 and Outhouse at Street 66, ‘Prom Night’ is set to be an inclusive event for older LGBTQIA+ individuals, and those who may not have been able to participate when they were younger, to don their finest attire with a partner of their choice and step back in time to recreate the magic of prom. Iconic drag artist Alan Amsby (AKA Mr Pussy) will perform, with a special photo-booth intervention by photographer Enda Burke and music by DJ Ruth Kavanagh. 

“We are so pleased to announce the return of Bealtaine Festival this May, showcasing the diversity and drive of older people and the deep connections across and between generations throughout Ireland," said Dr. Tara Byrne, Arts Program Manager.

"Our team is curating an exciting programme of events, across a range of art forms and celebrating the achievements and potential of those who may have previously gone unsung. We look forward to welcoming submissions from organizations and creatives of all ages across Ireland who share our passion for the festival and indeed our lust for life!” 

Bealtaine Festival is an initiative by Age & Opportunity, funded by The Arts Council and the HSE. The festival fosters creativity among older people across Ireland through intergenerational collaboration, showcasing older artists, and promoting skills and experiences that can lead to a rich, creative life.  

How to register events for Bealtaine 2024: 

Organizations are encouraged to incorporate the 2024 festival theme ‘Lust for Life’. Once the event is ready for promotion, it can be registered via the Bealtaine website.  

  • Visit the Registration page and either login or create an account.
  • Once you have an account and are logged in, you’ll be brought to the ‘Add/Manage Events’ page.
  • Add your event using the registration form. Hit submit and the Bealtaine team will review your submissions in 5 working days.
  • Need to make some changes? Log in, head to ‘Add/Manage Events’, and click the ‘Manage your Bealtaine Events’ tab.  
  • Make sure you record the email address you used and your password for future logins. 

Registration is open throughout the month of May.

Queries regarding the online registration process or the festival in general can be sent to the Age & Opportunity Arts Administrator on [email protected].