The Bealtaine Festival, Ireland's national celebration of the arts and ageing, was honoured at a special reception at Áras an Uachtaráin to launch the event, which runs throughout the month of May.
An Age & Opportunity initiative, the festival will bring a rich programme of performances, exhibitions, discussions and workshops to communities nationwide.
Artists from the genres of music, performance, literature, visual arts and film joined President Connolly to highlight the importance of creativity and artistic expression at every stage of life.
President Connolly said: "The festival showcases the work of older artists and ensures their voices and contributions are visible and valued in our communities. Bealtaine is a genuinely national festival in a way few others are, present not only in the cities, but in towns and parishes across the country.
"This year’s theme 'Lust for Life’ is one I particularly enjoy. It is a phrase that speaks to the energy, the appetite and the creative drive that the years can sharpen rather than soften. It is also, in the spirit of Bealtaine, a phrase with a wink in it: knowing, joyful, and slightly defiant. The festival has always carried that double quality, deeply serious about the cultural rights of older people, and entirely unwilling to be solemn about it."
Dr Tara Byrne, Arts Programme Manager at Age & Opportunity and Artistic Director of Bealtaine Festival added: "Bealtaine Festival reflects that creativity is a lifelong ability that can foster connection and shape our society. The upcoming Bealtaine programme features events and discussions that both challenge assumptions and build understanding. It also offers an opportunity to reflect on how we value ageing, creativity and care in Irish society and how the arts can help us to realise a positive model of ageing."
Following a month of nationwide activity, the festival will reach its culmination at a flagship finale weekend from the 28th - 30th of May at Project Arts Centre in Dublin - find out more about the programme here.
