MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL Bealtaine Band, Matt Molloy, Christy O’ Leary, Martin Murray, ... Manhattan won a Jacobs award for producer Julian ... Kerry, in 1930. He recently published his

MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL

BealtaineCELEBRATING CREATIVITY IN OLD AGE

Welcome to Bealtaine 2006. This is the eleventh year of Bealtaine,the national festival which celebrates creativity in older age - co-ordinated nationally by Age and Opportunity (an agency set up tochallenge negative attitudes to ageing and to promote greaterparticipation by older people in society). Bealtaine aims to involveolder people in the arts, through expression and active participation.It also encourages older people to engage as an experienced audiencefor all art forms.

Programme LaunchEverybody is welcome to join MayoCounty Council Arts Office at the launchof Bealtaine 2006 programme in theWelcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar onThursday 27th April at 2pm. Cllr. Henry

Kenny, Cathaoirleach, Mayo County Council will officially launch theprogramme. Tea/Coffee and sandwiches will be served and music willbe provided by the Panama Jazz Band.The Panama Jazz Band – PJB, was founded eight years ago by DavidMcVeigh, trumpet player and New Orleans Jazz enthusiast. Thebands playlist is extensive and varied, ranging from Louis Armstrongto Frank Sinatra and from Count Basie to Woody Herman.

The ProgrammeThe extensive programme features a multitude of events, covering theentire county. Bealtaine is expanding every year and in order to deliverthe programme, Mayo County Councils Art Office are working inassociation with Active Retirement Groups and Health Care settings.In addition, this year, four ARA groups will be doing threeconsecutive arts workshops. These workshops were offered on a firstcome first served basis and will provide a better arts experience forthose involved. Furthermore Arts Venues in the county offer excellentopportunities to participate and see quality arts events.

‘06

Thursday 11th May to Sunday 28th May. On the grounds of theMuseum of County Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar. Opening Hours,Tuesdays to Saturdays 10am-5pm, Sundays 12-5pmOpening Hours Tuesdays to Saturdays Sundays 12-5pmThis exhibition celebrates the work of older people who have beeninvolved in the mentoring programme. It brings their work togetherin a nationally recognized location and offers everybody anopportunity to to see their extraordinary talent and progression.

Artists Mentoring & Networking Programme Now in its third year, this programme was initiated by Mayo CountyCouncil in partnership with Age & Opportunity and is supported bythe Arts Council and The Health Service Executive Western Area.The mentoring programme provides supported opportunities forartists to experience working with older people in health-caresettings. It also provides a network for these artists so they canshare ideas, experiences and learning.

Since February 2004, artists Margaret Morrison, Irma van Baalen,Bernie Garvey O’Mara, Tom Meskell and Tania Nally, have beenworking in Achill, Westport, Ballina, Swinford and Claremorris, in arange of settings, including long-term care and day care.

Artist co-ordinator, Deirdre Walsh has been the mentor in theprogramme, providing artistic and practical supports arising from herextensive experience in this area.

Between Colours ExhibitionMayo County CouncilArtists’ Mentoring & Networking Programme

Veronica Bolay was born in Germany and studied painting andcostume design in the National College of Art and Design in

Hamburg. She moved to Ireland in 1971. Her workformed part of a highly-regarded 1978 exhibition ofwomen artists held in the Project (gallery) in Dublinwhere she exhibited with, among others, Camille Souterand the late Mary Farl Powers. She has exhibited atseveral galleries including the Vanguard Gallery, Cork,

Rubicon Gallery, Dublin, Sheephandler Gallery, Roundstone and willhave a solo exhibition at the Hallward Gallery, Dublin in 2006.Veronica’s work is mainly associated with landscape although figuresare prominent in many of her paintings, etchings and pastels.

She has received many notable awards,including the Fergus O’Ryan Memorial Awardfrom the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1999and the Keating McLoughlin Medal + ESBAward in 2000. The poet Paul Durcan haswritten two poems about her work - ‘The HayCarrier’ and ‘Island Musician Going Home’.Her work forms part of the collections of theDepartment of Agriculture in Mayo, the FourCourts, Dublin City University, ESB, MayoCounty Council and the National Universityof Ireland, Maynooth. She is currently amember of the Board of Directors at the Linenhall Arts Centre inCastlebar. Veronica was elected to Aosdána, the affiliation of creativeartists in February of this year; she is also this years’ recipient of theMayo County Council/ LiamWalsh Award.

Admission is free but booking in essential, contact the Arts Officeon 094 90 24444 ext. 7560

‘Painting: An Artist’s View’ A talk by Veronica Bolay on Thursday 4th May, the RegionalTraining Centre, Aras an Chontae, Castlebar at 7.30pm

John is from Mullaghbawn in CountyArmagh and is regarded as Ireland'sfinest seanchaí (storyteller). Len wasborn in County Antrim to a familysteeped in traditional music, song anddance. He has been cultivating thesong tradition of his native Ulsterthroughout his life. When you hearCampbell and Graham both mixingsongs and stories you feel yourself inthe intimate company of two men whoare masters of an old art.

The Orchard ARA, Monday 22nd May at 5pm Orchard CommunitySwinford Centre

Roundfort ARA Monday 22nd May at 8pm Roundfort Community Centre

Storytelling with Len Graham & John Campbell

Horn/Harp Duo (Mary Curran & Ann Jones)Sacred Heart Home, Castlebar Thursday 11th May at 11amSt. Brendan’s Village, Mulranny, Thursday 11th May at 2.30pm

Harp Recital with Gráinne HamblyMcBride CNU, Westport Monday 8th at 11am D’Alton CNU, Claremorris Monday 8th at 2.30pmFr. Peyton Centre, Attymass, Tuesday 9th at 2.30pm

Traditional Music with David Munnelly & FriendsÁras Deirbhle, Belmullet Thursday 18th at 2.30pm

Gráinne HamblyGráinne comes from County Mayo, and is a music graduate of

Queen’s University Belfast. She began to playtraditional Irish music on tin whistle at an early age,before turning to the concertina and later the harp.Over the past few years, Gráinne has touredextensively throughout Europe and the United States.

She is also a qualified teacher of traditional Irish music and is in greatdemand at summer schools and festivals both in Ireland and abroad.Gráinne has featured on a number of recordings has released soloalbums, Between the Showers and Golden Lights and Green Shadows.

Music Recitals Programme

Horn Harp DuoAnn Jones and Mary Curran are both freelancemusicians working with the RTÉ Orchestra andperforming in several groups.As well as playingthe classical Harp, Ann performs Celtic songs.Mary is a former musician in residence withMayo County Council. The duo performs amixed programme of classical and light music,as well as Celtic songs and music.

David MunnellyAccordion player and composer David Munnelly is anative of Belmullet. Over the years he has toured andperformed with some of the county’s finest musiciansincluding: Gerry (‘Banjo’) O’ Connor, the NiamhParsons Band, Matt Molloy, Christy O’ Leary, Martin

Murray, Garry O’ Brian, Arty McGlynn and many more. In 2001 Davidreleased his debut album Swing to great acclaim. His second album ByHeck is an energetic album remembering in particular the music of the1920’s music scene in America.

Brian LeydenMcBride CNU, Westport, Friday 19th May, at 11amSt. Colman’s Care Centre, Keel, Achill Friday 19th May, at 2pm

Máire HolmesD’Alton CNU, Claremorris Wednesday 3rd, at 11amÁras Attracta, Swinford Wednesday 3rd, at 2pm

Frank GalliganSt. Colman’s Care Centre, Keel, Achill Thurs 4th May, at 2.30pmÁras Deirbhle, Belmullet Friday 5th May, at 11.30am

Brian Leyden Born in Roscommon in 1960, Brian Leyden won theRTE/ Francis McMaunus Short Story Award in 1988and the Irelands Own short story competition in1989. His RTE Radio documentary No Meadows inManhattan won a Jacobs award for producer JulianVignoles in 1991. He also devised and performed a

one-man stage show on W B Yeats Experiments in Magic. A collectionof short stories Departures was published by Brandon in 1992 and hisnovel Death and Plenty was published by Brandon in April 1996.

Readings Programme

Frank Galligan Writer and Broadcaster Frank Galligan is a native ofCounty Donegal. He has worked for BBC RadioUlster/Radio Foyle and Channel 9 TV; he is afrequent contributor to RTE's 'Rattlebag' and TodayFM's 'The Last Word'. He has edited many cross-

border school publications and literary journals - including Force 10.His previous publications include A Cold Forbidding IrishGreen(winner of the Mc Crae Literary Award and the Walter AllenPrize for Creative Writing), A Strong Weakness and a book of shortstories, Out of the Blue.

In 1998 he was appointed Northern Ireland Chairman of the UKNational Year of Reading and he has a long association with ThePushkin Prizes Trust - dedicated to fostering good relations (throughcreative writing) between children of different religions.

Máire HolmesWriting in Irish and English, Máire is a poet, playwrightand broadcaster. Her poetry is widely published in bothlanguages and her Irish poetry is on the LeavingCertificate Course. Her collection Dúrún, is published by

Coiscéim. Her plays include The Butterfly Who Couldn't Dancestaged at the Peacock Theatre in Dublin, and Fáinne and Hollydazepresented by An Taibhdhearc, Galway. She has received a number ofawards for her poetry, plays and other writings, including a HennessyAward for Literature in Short Stories.

Mayo County Council Arts Office would like to thankmost sincerely all the venues, groups and individualsassociated with the Bealtaine Festival 2006.

Kiltimagh ARA Visual Art with Tania Nally (CDP office) Tuesday 2nd, 9th and 30th at 3pm Kiltimagh

Community CentreCharlestown ARA Drama with Stephen Doyle Pastoral Centre

Monday 15th ,22nd and 29th at 3pmWestport ARA Visual Art With Irma van Baalen Plougastel

Tuesday 9th, 16th & 23rd at 3pm Centre, WestportCrossmolina ARA Drama with Stephen Doyle Town Hall,

Wednesday 17th, 24th Crossmolina& 31st at 8pm

Castlebar ARA Drama with Fiona McDonagh Welcome Inn Wednesday 17th at 3pm Hotel

Balla ARA Dance with Dee Browne Balla Friday 5th at 3.45pm Community Centre

Providence ARA, Creative Photography Social ServiceFoxford with Stephanie Troy Centre, Foxford

Monday 8th & 22nd at 8pmBallina ARA Music & Memory Pastoral Centre,

with John HobanFriday 26th May at 11.00am

Newport ARA Visual Art with Margaret Morrison Craft Room Monday 8th at 8pm Radda Hall,

NewportBallinrobe ARA Creative Photography Old Boys School

with Stephanie TroyWednesday 10th & Wednesday 24th at 10.30am

Mayo Abbey ARA Drama with Fiona McDonagh Mayo AbbeyFriday 5th May at 2pm Community Centre

Kilcolman ARA, Creative Photography Dalton Hotel,Claremorris with Stephanie Troy Claremorris

Monday 15th &Monday 29th at 8pm

Belmullet/ Music & Memory Erris TrainingErris ARA with John Hoban Centre

Friday 26th May at 2pm Caide le Chéile, Dance with Dee Browne The High Geesala Wednesday 3rd at 12pm Chaparreal, Geesala

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE

Workshops Programme

Celebrating BealtaineAn Evening with Micheal O Muircheartaigh Wednesday 17th May at 8pm, Castlebar Library. All welcome.

Micheal O Muircheartaigh has become the voice of Gaelicgames on RTE Radio with his stirring account of theaction on the field and his vast knowledge of the history ofGaelic games. He made his first radio debut in 1949. He

was born in Dingle, Co, Kerry, in 1930. He recently published hisautobiography, 'From Dun Sion to Croke Park'.

Computers In Older Age A series of ‘introduction to computers’ classes will be held inCastlebar, Ballyhaunis, Claremorris, Charlestown, Kiltimagh, Achilland Westport libraries. Dates to be confirmed. Contact: 094 90 47574.

Songs of the Irish Abroad. The library, in conjunction with author Ultan Cowley, is puttingtogether a collection of songs of the Irish in Britain on DVD. Ultanwill visit day care and community centres in the county to talk toanyone who may know of such songs. He will film people performingsongs and recitations for a DVD and CD which will be produced bythe Library Service. Contact: 094 90 47578.

Talking RetirementA four CD audio programme covering all aspects of retirement –housing, making a will, health, budgeting, residential care – will beavailable for lending in Castlebar, Ballina and Westport.

Mayo County Council Library Service

There are a variety of excellent venues providing arts events andworkshops throughout the year. If you would like to be added tothese venues mailing list and receive regular information on eventsand activities, please contact them directly.Linenhall Arts Centre,Linenhall Street, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. Tel: 094 90 23733, Email: [email protected] (Bealtaine events)

Ballina Arts Centre, Market Square, Ballina, Co. Mayo. Tel: 096 73593, Email: [email protected] (Bealtaine events)

Custom House Studios,The Quay, Westport, Co. Mayo. Tel: 098 28735. Email: [email protected]

Townhall Arts Centre,Barrack St, Charlestown, Co. Mayo. Tel: 094 9255812, Email: [email protected] (Bealtaine events)

Museum of County Life,Contact the Education and Outreach Department Turlough Park, CastlebarTel: 094 90 31751, Email: [email protected](Bealtaine events)

TF Royal Hotel & Theatre,Old Westport Road, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. Tel: 094 90 23111, Email: [email protected] (Special Bealtaine offers in May)

Venues in mayo...

LINENHALL ARTS CENTRE, CastlebarFilm screening: on Wednesday 17th May at 3.00pmTHE PHILADELPHIA STORY*

Still Life Painting Workshops with Claire GriffinCommencing Thursday 4th May The workshops run over four Thursday afternoons – May 4th, 11th,18th and 25th from 3.30pm – 5.30pm. The fee for the full four

sessions is €35 per person. All materials are provided. Places are limited and pre-booking is ESSENTIAL.

BALLINA ARTS CENTRE, Ballina‘From Hand to Hand’ traditional music concert with flautistsEmer Mayock (Mayo) and Peter Horan (Sligo) Friday 19th May at8pm, in the Newman Institute, Ballina

Film screening: Friday May 26th at 2pm in the Ridgepool HotelTHE PHILADELPHIA STORY*

Creative Writing workshop with Terry McDonagh, Friday 12th May at 2pm in Ballina Arts Centre

CUSTOM HOUSE STUDIOS, Westport‘The Big Round’ Exhibition by Paula Henihan, 4th May to 28th May.“Exploring the ephemeral existence and regenerative qualities of ournatural world".

Bealtaine events in...

TOWNHALL ARTS CENTRE, CharlestownStorytelling - with Eddie Lenihan, Wednesday 10th May at 7pmMaster storyteller Eddie Lenihan travels worldwide bringing hisunique repertoire of Irish stories including haunted places, fairy andghost stories, historical tales and much more. Film screening: on Wednesday 24th May at 8pmTHE PHILADELPHIA STORY*

KILTIMAGH TOWN HALL THEATREFilm screening: on Tuesday 2nd May at 8pmTHE PHILADELPHIA STORY*Contact: Lisa Hallinan, IRD Kiltimagh. Telephone: 094 938 1494

*THE PHILADELPHIA STORYThe Philidelphia Story (access Cinema/ IFI national tour as part ofBealtaine)

Made in 1940 and as fresh as ever, The Philadelphia Story is anexquisite romantic farce centering on a socialite wedding that isthreatened by scandal, featuring three of the greatest movie stars of alltime - Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart - at theirvery best. Ice maiden Hepburn, recently divorced from irresponsiblemillionaire Grant, is just about to marry a truly dull but supposedlymore considerate type. Enter the sceptical Grant, and also Stewart asa reporter from Spy magazine to cover the society event of the year.Superbly directed by George Cukor, the film is a marvel of timing andsparkling wit.

Here’s a wonderful opportunity to enjoy one of the finest Hollywoodclassics on the big screen, where it truly belongs. Get ready to settlein for a real treat!

Director: George Cukor | USA 1940, | 112 minutes | Adm: Free

Bealtaine events in...

MUSEUM OF COUNTRY LIFE, Turlough Park HouseFor information or to make a booking contact the Education andOutreach Department Tel: 094 90 31751, e-mail [email protected].

Hand to Hand - The Creative ExchangeThis year to celebrate Bealtaine, the National Museum of Ireland -Country Life has organised a programme of ‘Art Thursdays’ and‘Craft Fridays’ from which to choose Art Thursdays, 2.30pm-4.30pm

We invite you to create art works in response to your experience ofthe museum exhibitions and how they relate to your lives.

Sketching: Thursday 4th may at 2.30pm with local artist Marianne Heemskerk Water colouring: Thursday 11th May at 2.30pm with local artistMarianne Heemskerk

Craft Fridays, 10am-5pmWe invite you to learn the basics oftraditional crafts and to create your own pieces.Pottery: Friday 5th May at 10am, with Henri Hedou (of TerrybaunPottery) to learn the fundamentals of pottery making and thencreate your own piece. Stained Glass: Friday 26th May at 10am, with Linda Mulloy tolearn the fundamentals of working with stained glass and create yourown pieces.

TF ROYAL THEATRE, CastlebarTF Royal Theatre Programme for the month of May includes:Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland, Country Legends Show, Jon Kenny, The Hollies, Mary Black, For further details please contact the Box Office on 0818 300000,visit www.royaltheatre.ie or call into Reception of the TF Royal Hotel &Theatre or any of the usual outlets (Downtown Records Castlebar &Westport, Hot Shot Records Ballina). Groups discounts available fromthe TF Royal Hotel & Theatre only.

Bealtaine events in...

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL’S BEALTAINE PROGRAMME,

CONTACT: The Arts Office, Mayo County Council, Aras an Chontae, Castlebar.

Tel. 094 902 4444 ext 7558 & 7560Email: [email protected]

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE

Cover Image: John Laurence Speight, Untitled 2005. Reproduced with kind permission of the artist.