30 Apr 2025
Donegal Celebrates 30 Years of Bealtaine with Month-Long Festival of Art, Music, and Community
Donegal County Council officially launched the 2025 Donegal Bealtaine Festival on Tuesday 29th April at Buncrana Library, marking the 30th anniversary of Ireland’s national celebration of arts and creativity as we age. Donegal has proudly been part of Bealtaine for 28 of those years, and this milestone year features the festival’s most ambitious and wide-reaching programme to date.
Speaking at the launch, the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr Niamh Kennedy celebrated the festival’s growth and importance in the cultural life of the county: "Bealtaine is about creativity, connection, and community. It’s about lifting up our older people, showcasing their talents, and ensuring culture and creativity are accessible to all, wherever they live."
This year’s programme puts a special spotlight on local talent, with artists such as Bernie Wilson (painting workshops), Grainne McCool (creative writing), and Paddy Donoghue (poetry writing) leading creative sessions. Meanwhile, music fans can look forward to performances from legends like Philomena Begley, Ray Lynam, Ralph McTell, Genticorum, and local favourite Patsy Cavanagh.
The festival also offers a rich variety of talks and experiences - from sound bath workshops and intergenerational storytimes, to a biodiversity talk on Donegal’s sea life, and events that explore sustainability and memory. A special exhibition, Mná na nGall – Donegal Women 1922–1980, at the Donegal County Museum shines a light on the powerful stories and achievements of women across six transformative decades.
Those attending the launch were captivated by a performance from Maura Logue, who brought her acclaimed one-woman show ‘Nora Gallagher’ to Buncrana Library. The performance offered a nostalgic and lively glimpse into a key part of Donegal’s social and cultural history, blending story, humour and music in a way that perfectly reflects the spirit of Bealtaine.
"Bealtaine doesn’t live in a gallery or a concert hall alone - it's all around us," said Sinead Noonan, Donegal Bealtaine coordinator. " It means you don’t have to go far to feel connected - to hear a poem, to see an exhibition, to tap your feet to a live tune, or even to try your own hand at something creative. That’s what makes celebrating Bealtaine in Donegal so special - culture doesn’t sit on a pedestal here, it lives in the community."
You can view the full programme of events planned by checking out our Donegal Bealtaine brochure HERE or you can pick one up in your local library or cultural venue. The programme and booking details are also available on our website www.donegalculture.ie or by phoning (074) 917 5384.
Féile Bealtaine 2025 a Sheoladh
Déanann Dún na nGall 30 Bliain de Bhealtaine a cheiliúradh le Féile Mhíosa na hEalaíne, an Cheoil agus an Phobail
Sheol Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall Féile Bealtaine Dhún na nGall 2025 go hoifigiúil Dé Máirt, an 29 Aibreán i Leabharlann Bhun Cranncha, mar chomóradh 30 bliain ar cheiliúradh náisiúnta na hÉireann ar na healaíona agus ar an chruthaitheacht agus muid ag dul in aois. Is cúis bhróid do Dhún na nGall a bheith mar chuid de Bhealtaine le 28 bliain anuas, agus tá an clár is uaillmhianaí agus is forleithne go dtí seo le feiceáil sa bhliain chinniúnach seo.
Agus í ag labhairt ag an seoladh, rinne Cathaoirleach Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall, an Comhairleoir Niamh Kennedy, ceiliúradh ar fhás agus ar thábhacht na féile i saol cultúrtha an chontae: "Baineann Bealtaine le cruthaitheacht, le nasc agus leis an phobal. Baineann sé lenár ndaoine scothaosta a ardú, a mbuanna a chur ar taispeáint, agus a chinntiú go bhfuil rochtain ag achan duine ar an chultúr agus ar an chruthaitheacht, cibé áit a bhfuil cónaí orthu.”
I gclár na bliana seo, dírítear aird ar leith ar thallann áitiúil, le healaíontóirí amhail Bernie Wilson (ceardlanna péintéireachta), Grainne McCool (scríbhneoireacht chruthaitheach), agus Paddy Donoghue (scríbhneoireacht filíochta) i gceannas ar sheisiúin chruthaitheacha. Idir an dá linn, is féidir le lucht leanúna an cheoil a bheith ag súil le léirithe ó laochra ceoil mar Philomena Begley, Ray Lynam, Ralph McTell, Genticorum, agus rogha áitiúil na coitiantachta Patsy Cavanagh.
Chomh maith leis sin, cuireann an fhéile réimse leathan cainteanna agus taithí ar fáil — ó cheardlanna folctha fuaime agus scéalaíocht idirghlúine, go caint bhithéagsúlachta ar shaol farraige Dhún na nGall, agus imeachtaí a fhiosraíonn inbhuanaitheacht agus cuimhne. I dtaispeántas speisialta, Mná na nGall — Mná Dhún na nGall 1922-1980, ag Músaem Chontae Dhún na nGall, tugtar léargas ar scéalta cumhachtacha agus ar éachtaí na mban le sé scór bliain anuas.
Bhí na daoine a bhí ag freastal ar an seoladh faoi dhraíocht ag léiriú ó Maura Logue, a thug a seó cáiliúil bean aonair ‘Nora Gallagher’ go Leabharlann Bhun Cranncha. Thug an léiriú spléachadh cumhach bríomhar ar chuid lárnach de stair shóisialta agus chultúrtha Dhún na nGall, ag meascadh scéalta, greann agus ceoil ar bhealach a léiríonn spiorad na Bealtaine go foirfe.
“Níl Bealtaine ina cónaí i ngailearaí ná i halla ceolchoirme amháin — tá sí timpeall orainn ar fad," a dúirt Sinéad Noonan, comhordaitheoir Bealtaine Dhún na nGall. " Ciallaíonn sé nach gá duit dul i bhfad chun go mbraithfeá go bhfuil tú nasctha — chun dán a chloisteáil, chun taispeántas a fheiceáil, chun do chosa a chur i dtiúin bheo, nó fiú chun triail a bhaint as rud éigin cruthaitheach. Sin an rud a fhágann go bhfuil ceiliúradh na Bealtaine i nDún na nGall chomh speisialta sin — ní shuíonn an cultúr ar choisbheart anseo, tá cónaí ar an chultúr sa phobal.”
Is féidir leat amharc ar chlár iomlán na n-imeachtaí atá beartaithe trí bhróisiúr Bealtaine Dhún na nGall a phiocadh suas i do leabharlann áitiúil nó i d’ionad cultúrtha. Tá an clár ar fáil freisin ar ár suíomh gréasáin www.donegalculture.ie nó trí ghlaoch ar (074) 917 5384.