Tickets Available Now!
Age & Opportunity is delighted to announce that tickets for the 30th anniversary edition of the Bealtaine Gathering are now on sale.
This annual event, which brings together Bealtaine event organisers, stakeholders, and the wider arts and ageing sector, will take place on Tuesday 14 October 2025 from 10:30am to 4:00pm at Project Arts Centre, Temple Bar, Dublin.
For this very special Gathering, we are thrilled that Roddy Doyle, one of Ireland’s most respected literary figures, will join us as our special guest in conversation with author Mia Gallagher, to reflect on the past 30 years through his own singular lens. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to pre-submit questions for Mr. Doyle, which will inform the conversation, when booking their tickets.
This year’s event will also offer a timely opportunity to consider the development of the arts and ageing sector in Ireland. The programme will include case studies, guest speakers, and discussions exploring both the progress made and the road ahead.
We welcome the attendance and participation of all those involved with Bealtaine, including individual artists, community groups, care setting representatives, local authority staff, and arts organisations. Whether you have been closely involved with Bealtaine over the years or would like to find out more, we hope to see you there!
Full schedule to follow shortly.
SOLD OUT: Join the Waitlist here: Eventbrite Waitlist
Topics and Speakers:
- Introduction by Dr. Tara Byrne, Arts Programme Manager and Bealtaine Festival Artistic Director, Age & Opportunity
- Special Guest Speaker, author Roddy Doyle, will be interviewed by author Mia Gallagher with audience submitted questions.
- Case Study/ In Conversation: Rebellious Hope with choreographer Philip Connaughton and dancer Joanna Banks.
- Facilitated networking and focus groups.
- Panel Discussion: What Do Older People Really Want (in programming)? With Dr. Ann Leahy (Author, Researcher), Peter Clarke (Bealtaine Citizen Curator), Marian McCauley (Arts Participant), Ann Davoren (Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre), Liz Kelly (Poetry Ireland) and Sinead Noonan (Donegal Libraries).
- Performance by the winner of the inaugural Age & Opportunity Artist From a Traveller Heritage award – to be announced.
- Panel Discussion: A Care Home for the Future: The Arts and our Future Selves (2055) with chair Tadhg Daly (Nursing Homes Ireland), Dominic Campbell (Creative Ageing International), and Brendan Walsh (ESRI).
Full Speaker Biographies: Gathering Speaker Biographies 2025
Schedule:
