Bealtaine Festival returns to Kilkenny

Kilkenny County Council Library Service is delighted to celebrate the national Bealtaine Festival once again this year with a wide range of activities and events.

The Bealtaine Festival celebrates the arts and creativity as we age and is co-ordinated by Age and Opportunity, who promote active living as we get older.  

Kilkenny library service is delighted to offer an extensive programme of events to encourage creativity throughout the month of May. 

"Our programme includes flower arranging at Thomastown Library, an art workshop at Callan Library, memoir writing workshops in the City and Graiguenamanagh Libraries, a poetry workshop in Ferrybank Library and a live musical performance at Castlecomer Library," a library spokesperson said.

"Teresa Hennessy, HSE will also facilitate a workshop at Loughboy Library on why creativity is good for our health."

Age Friendly Co-ordinator Karyn Deegan said that Bealtaine 2023 will be extra significant for Kilkenny Library Service as the service will be celebrating their recent Age Friendly status that was awarded to each of their library branches.

"This status was achieved following staff training and the implementation of changes in how we deliver services to older people in our community, such as the introduction of Age Friendly parking spaces outside Castlecomer, Callan and Urlingford libraries, the provision of reading aids available in all library branches, book trolleys for people, and a commitment to continue to include Age Friendly programmes across our library service," she said.

Library staff will also host Connect Cafés in each library branch during the month of May where they invite members of the community to connect with each other over a cuppa and chat. 

For details of all events, check out www.kilkennylibrary.ie or contact their Age Friendly Co-Ordinator Karyn Deegan on 056 4440561.