Bealtaine Festival 2025
We believe that the month of May belongs to the Bealtaine Festival, celebrating art and creativity as we age! The Bealtaine Festival gives our older adults in the County the opportunity to discover a new talent or find a new way to use an old skill. It is an opening to make new friends and connect with your community.
South Dublin County Council offers community groups the opportunity to host an event/activity for older members of the community during the month of May centred around art and creativity.
Tallaght Library
Date & Time | Event Details | Reserve your Spot |
Thursday, 1st May 12 pm | Maria Lane Choir To kick-off our Bealtaine celebrations, the Maria Lane choir will be singing all your favourite songs in Tallaght Library. Booking through Eventbrite or just come along on the day. | |
Thursday, 1st May 6.30 pm | Spark A Poem In celebration of Poetry Day Ireland, we will be offering a standalone creative writing workshop for adults. Participants will be led through a creative writing exercise inspired by the ancient Bealtaine bonfire tradition. | |
Thursday, 8th May 6.30pm | GAA Gold Join us for a screening of a classic GAA match. | |
Starting Thursday, 8th May 2 pm | Chair Yoga Course with DDLETB Eight-week course with facilitator Heather Ormsby. DDLETB application form must be completed and returned to book your spot. | Book at Library desk 01-462 0073 |
Thursday, 15th May 6 pm | Movie Club A Man of No Importance (1994) In 1963's Dublin, Alfred Byrne is a bus conductor who pleasures his working class passengers with poetry recitals as he punches their tickets. | |
Saturday, 17th May 10 am | Plant Swap & Gardening Day Swap plants, seed, tips and tricks with fellow gardeners. | |
Monday, 19 & 26 May From 2.30 pm to 4 pm | Acorn Tablets Training Acorn tablets are easy-to–use and designed with older adults in mind. Sign-up to borrow an Acorn tablet for three months and attend two training sessions with library staff. | Book at Library desk 01-462 0073 |
Tuesday, 20th May From 3 pm to 5 pm | Age Friendly Bingo The competition is friendly, the banter is top-notch, and the only thing serious is the prize-winning! | |
Wednesday, 21st May 2 pm | Chair Yoga Taster Chair Yoga is a versatile, low-impact practice that adapts traditional yoga poses to seated or supported positions. This practice is perfect for older adults looking to stay active or try something new. | |
Wednesday, 21st May 6 pm | Pendulum Project Exhibition and Launch The Pendulum Project is an exciting art project especially for older adults that will explore the theme “Life Story” using different materials and the participants’ memories. This exhibition will showcase all the works created over the four-week courses. | All Welcome |
Friday, 23rd May 11 am | Tai Chi Taster This is a great chance to try out Tai chi, originally an ancient Chinese martial art. It brings inner calm while stretching and strengthening the entire body and promoting positive blood flow. | |
Tuesday, 27th May 11 am | Kim Jenkinson Arts and Craft Join artist Kim Jenkinson for a relaxing craft session for adults. | |
Thursday, 29th May 6 pm | Culture Dublin - Live Performance Joyce Stagers celebrate the gathering of 37 of Ireland’s foremost poets, writers, artists, and journalists as featured in Alan Reeve’s famous caricature including Patrick Kavanagh, Flann O’Brien, Austin Clarke and Francis McManus. This is an evening of readings/performances of a selection from their works. | Booking from Thursday, 1st May at 10am |
Lucan Library
Date & Time | Event Detail | Reserve your Spot |
| All month | The Life and Works of Jane Austen, an Exhibition | All Welcome |
Thursday, 1st May 7 pm | Origins of Christchurch: A Talk Exploring the monastic origins of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin', a talk by Stuart Kinsella | Book Here |
Tuesday, 6th May 6.30 pm | Poets Perch New members welcome to this regular group, meets monthly | Book at Library desk 01-621 6422 |
Wednesday, 7th May 6.30 pm | Cleaner Greener Home and Garden Join us for a lively interactive workshop where we discuss eco ways to take care of our home and garden, make different home cleaners and plenty of time for questions and answers too. There will be a recipe card for the cleaners and free samples if you bring your own clean containers. | Book Here |
Thursday, 8th May 10 am | Creative Writers Group Writing discussed and shared, if interested please come along to try it out. Group meets monthly | Book at Library desk 01-621 6422 |
Wednesday, 14th May 4.30 pm | Classic Movie Club Classic movie magic every month, refreshments and chats provided | Book at Library desk 01-621 6422 |
Saturday, 17th May 11.00 am to 1.00 pm | Needle Felting Workshop Beginners welcome! Come a create something unique from felt for Bealtaine. All materials will be provided. | More info |
Monday, 19th May 10.00 am | Knitting Club New members welcome, meets monthly | All welcome |
Thursday, 22nd May 1.00 pm | Table Quiz Test your knowledge! Refreshments provided | Book at Library desk 01-621 6422 |
Monday, 26th May 12 noon | Monday Book Club New members welcome, meets monthly | Book at Library desk 01-621 6422 |
Wednesday, 28th May 7 pm | Wednesday Book Club New members welcome, meets monthly | Book at Library desk 01-621 6422 |
North Clondalkin Library
Date & Time | Event Details | Reserve your Spot |
Begins Monday, 12th May 2 pm to 3 pm | Chair Yoga 6-week course with DDLETB DDLETB application form must be completed and returned to book your spot. | Registration day in NCL library Monday 28th April. Form must be completed. |
Begins Monday, 12th May 6.30 pm | Chess for Beginners Join us for this 4-week course with chess master Vitali Baranouski. | All Welcome |
Wednesday, 14th May 3 pm | Storytime for Grandparents & Grandchildren | All Welcome |
Begins Friday, 23rd May 12 pm to 2 pm | Copper Art Creation with Shane Lynch We are delighted to welcome back Shane for this 4-week programme. Over the 4-week session, participants will learn skills & techniques of copper craft bringing home their own hand-crafted art piece at the end of the sessions | Book at Library desk 01-414 9269 |
Spruce up your garden By creating your own hanging basket with guidance from our garden expert. | Book at Library desk 01-414 9269 | |
Friday, 23rd May 2 pm | Adult Movie Club Showing The Duke with Jim Broadbent & Helen Mirren. | All Welcome |
Ballyroan Library
Date & Time | Event Details | Reserve your Spot |
Thursday, 8th May 1 pm | Ballroom Blizt Ballyroan Get your dancing shoes on and try out some Ballroom steps with this lively dance class! No prior experience is needed - just a willingness to try something new! | Book Here |
Friday, 9th May 11 am | Needle Felting Workshop with Martina In this 2 hour needle felting workshop you will learn how to create a picture with wool. Using a special barbed needle, you will continuously push wool roving or batting (long strands of pure wool) through felt fabric to create beautiful landscapes. Under the guidance of the tutor, you will learn how to create animals grazing in the fields, sheep dog or a cottage. | Book Here |
Monday, 12th May 2.30 pm | Paint a Seascape with Christine Paint an acrylic seascape painting! With a little creativity and a lot of passion, you can transform a blank canvas into a breathtaking seascape masterpiece. All materials supplied. | Book Here |
Tuesday, 13th May 6.30 pm | History talk Patrick O'Connell: Footballer and Manager Historian James Curry will talk about the life of this remarkable Dubliner who became the first Irish player to captain Manchester United in 1914. He went on to manage F.C. Barcelona and brought them back from the brink of financial ruin during the Spanish Civil War. O’Connell, or “Don Patricio” as he was known as in Spain, died a pauper in London in 1959 and only recently has his extraordinary contribution to football been recognised. James will retell his fascinating story. | Book Here |
Wednesday, 14th May, 1.30 pm | Monthly History Hub Join us every month to watch an episode from a landmark documentary series and afterwards we’ll discuss the content over tea and coffee. | Book Here |
Saturday, 24th May 12 pm | RUGS Ukulele Group Live Enjoy the uplifting sound of a ukulele orchestra! The ever-popular RUGS are back to brighten up your day. | Book Here |
Tuesday, 27th May 6.30 pm | Great Gatsby Evening with Cotton Club Quartet Enjoy music from the golden age of Jazz with the Cotton Club Quartet. We are encouraging everyone to dress up 1920s style with beads, feathers and fringes! Drinks reception from 6.30pm & Band from 6.45pm. Booking is not required. | Book Here |
Palmerstown Library
Date & Time | Event Details | Reserve your Spot |
Friday, 2nd May 10.30am & Thursday, 15th May 7pm | Family Tree History Group Meeting Come along to discuss ideas and exchange tips with fellow genealogy enthusiasts at different stages of family tree research. | All Welcome No booking required. |
Wednesday, 7th May 5.30 pm | Classic Movie Night Join us for a screening of the classic film Marty on our big screen. | Book Here |
Thursday, 8th May 7 pm | Men’s Ukelele Group Session Join us for a Ukelele Session with the Men’s Shed! | All Welcome No booking required |
Friday, 16th May 11 am | The Reading Circle Join us for a reading of some classic literature in a relaxed welcoming atmosphere. | Book Here |
Friday, 23rd May 12.30 pm | Growing Food in Window Boxes Workshop with Aoife Munn Join us for this lively talk and learn how to grow fresh greens in a window box with minimum effort. From salad leaves to herbs and micro greens | Booking from Friday, 9th May 10am |
Friday, 30th May 11.45 am | Palmerstown Library Book Club Join us for a lively relaxed social Book Club and a cuppa! | No booking required Details from the library |
Castletymon Library
Date & Time | Event Details | Reserve your Spot |
Wednesday, 14th May 6.30 pm | The Tymon Sessions Join us for this special Bealtaine edition of our regular trad session. Feel free to bring along your own instrument and join in, sing along, or just listen! | All Welcome |
Monday 12th & Tuesday 13th May 12 pm | Watercolours for adults (a two-day workshop) Join Jen for this masterclass in watercolours. Participants must be able to attend both sessions. | Book Here |
Clondalkin Library
Date & Time | Event Details | Reserve your Spot |
Friday, 16th May 11 am | Soap making workshop Join Aoife Munn to make your own soaps using natural materials. All materials provided. | |
Friday, 30th May 6 pm | An Evening with the Local Vocals Choir The Local Vocals choir is back in Clondalkin Library for an evening performance to celebrate Bealtaine. The library will re-open at 5.30pm for this special performance. Singing along encouraged! | Booking from Monday 12th May |