Mayo’s Bealtaine 2026 programme announced

MAYO County Council Arts Service have launchd their 2026 Bealtaine festival programme for Mayo.

Taking place in the month of May, Bealtaine is the annual nationwide festival celebrating the arts and creativity as we age. The national festival is run by Age & Opportunity, the national organisation that promotes active and engaged living as we get older.

Mayo County Council Arts Service runs an extensive Bealtaine programme every year, which includes workshops in various artistic disciplines, artist talks, performances in care settings, gallery tours and a variety of other events.

This year’s programme includes theatre workshops at the Linenhall, Castlebar, movement and dance workshops with Catherine Donnelly, a writing workshop with writer Gerry Boland in Belmullet, an Azure dementia-friendly tour at Ballina Arts Centre, cyanotype print making with artist/photographer Michael Gannon; a Connect Café event with the Mayo Cultural Companions Network; and poetry readings on Midwest Radio with poets Christina Hennemann and Mike Absalom to celebrate National Poetry Day.

Artist Norah Brennan will celebrate National Art in Nursing Homes Day on May 15 with printmaking workshops.

Western Tunes, Songs and Tales on May 25 is a Music & Health Ireland local partnership with Mayo Arts Service and will include performances in three community nursing units in the county.

There is something for everyone in this year’s programme. To view the full programme of events, pick up a copy of the brochure in your local library, arts venue, Family Resource Centre, or online here.

To learn more about the national Bealtaine Festival, visit bealtaine.ie.

This programme is strategically funded by Mayo County Council in partnership with the Arts Council.