Bealtaine is a month long arts festival held annually each May featuring performances, exhibitions, discussions, workshops and readings across Ireland to celebrate culture and creativity as we age.
The National Museum of Ireland is participating once again in this engaging initiative with a range of events from the power of poetry to discovering how to write in Insular Majuscule.
The theme this year is 'Lust for Life' - inspired by the Iggy Pop classic hit.
Here are some of our highlight events taking place across all four sites of the National Museum of Ireland throughout May:
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Bealtaine Workshop: The Art of Irish Calligraphy with Tim O’Neill
Friday, 16 May | 10:30am - 12:30pm | Adults
Saturday, 17 May | 10:30am - 12:30pm | Adults
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
This workshop will start with a tour of the Museum, exploring life in Early Medieval Ireland, the arrival of Christianity, and the introduction of writing. Tim O'Neill will then demonstrate how to write in Insular Majuscule. Participants can handle replica artefacts related to calligraphy, including vellum, quills, and inks, for a hands-on experience. FIND OUT MORE
Online Video Series: Rediscovering Ancient Crafts
In May 2023, the Education and Outreach Department at the National Museum of Ireland at Kildare Street held drop-in workshops featuring experimental archaeologists. They showcased replica artefacts from the Museum's handling collection. You can now enjoy highlights from these workshops at home, as the archaeologists share the stories and skills behind the objects that connect us to our past. FIND OUT MORE
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
A New Form of Beauty: Panel Discussion - Bealtaine Festival
Friday 16 May | 6pm - 7.30pm | Adults
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Join a panel discussion hosted by the Bealtaine Festival, in partnership with the National Museum of Ireland, at 6pm on Friday, 19 May at Collins Barracks. The discussion will explore Dublin youth culture, inspired by Garry O’Neill’s photographic exhibition A New Form of Beauty. Booking required via Eventbrite
A New Form of Beauty: Dublin youth culture, street style and subculture history, 1960s to 1990s
During opening hours | 1 May 2025 until March 2026 | All Ages
Nationa Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
In celebration of the Bealtaine Festival's 30th anniversary, a captivating exhibition of archival photographs has been commissioned and is being hosted in collaboration with the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks. This exhibition offers a unique glimpse into the evolution of Dublin's youth culture across three pivotal decades, featuring images from the 1960s through to the 1990s. FIND OUT MORE
Azure Dementia-Inclusive Tours
Wednesday 28 May, Wednesday 27 August & Wednesday 26 November | 11am - 12.30pm | Adults
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Azure tours are a free gallery led experience specifically designed to support people living with dementia and their family, friends or carers, to engage with our exhibitions and enjoy a social museum experience. FIND OUT MORE
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Poetry Day Ireland - Poetry Trail Launch
Thursday 1 May | 12.30pm | Adults
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Celebrate National Poetry Day with us on Thursday, 1 May at 12.30pm for the launch of OnSight 2024/25: Silent Objects/Spoken Lives—a brand-new poetry trail inspired by the Irish Folklife Collection. Experience the power of poetry through readings and a panel discussion with renowned poets Geraldine Mitchell, Martina Evans, and Sean Borodale, along with light refreshments. FIND OUT MORE
'I Ran Through Briars' - Bealtaine Poetry Workshop
Friday, 2 May | 2pm | Adults
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Join poet Martina Evans for a special Bealtaine workshop designed for older adults to explore memories and the themes of youth, change, leaving and work. Admission is free, but spaces are limited. FIND OUT MORE
Friday, 2 May | 12noon | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Join Minister Dara Calleary TD for the launch and screening of a new documentary on Hearth – Art for Older People at Home on Friday, 2 May at 12 noon. This documentary showcases the benefits of in-home art workshops for older adults. Hearth, founded in 2009 by artists Deirdre Walsh and Breda Mayock, connects professional artists with older people in County Mayo to promote creativity and well-being. FIND OUT MORE
Clew Bay Garden Trail Launch Event
Saturday, 24 May | 11am | All Ages
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Biologist and broadcaster Éanna Ní Lamhna will be the special guest speaker for the official launch of this year's Clew Bay Garden Trail at 11am on Saturday, 24 May. The Clew Bay Garden Trail is an annual open garden initiative organised by a group of voluntary gardeners in the west Mayo area. FIND OUT MORE
Since 1995, Age & Opportunity's Bealtaine festival has been a vibrant, nationwide festival celebrating arts and creativity as we age. With performances, exhibitions, readings, and workshops taking place across Ireland, the festival invites everyone to engage, create, and connect. The National Museum of Ireland has proudly hosted a diverse range of events across its four sites, embracing annual themes such as ‘Be Our Guest’, ‘Push the Boat Out’, ‘Whatever the Sea’, ‘All Together Now – Power of the Collective’, and ‘Grow Happy’. As we reflect on these past themes and celebrations, we invite you to join us in revisiting these moments and exploring them further through digital resources. LEARN MORE
National Museum of Ireland, Merrion Street - Online
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Watch Back: Insects in the City
About 11,500 different insect species have been discovered in Ireland. What six-legged insects live in our cities? Join Entomology Curator, Aidan O’Hanlon, for a short online talk on the six-legged neighbours living in our cities! FIND OUT MORE
Browse more upcoming events at the National Museum of Ireland