Bealtaine Living Earth Festival
Date : Sat 18 May - Sun 26 May
Various locations around the South East of Ireland
The 20th annual Bealtaine Living Earth Festival takes place from 18 – 26 May 2024 with events for adults, families and schools across the region.
There are over 20 free events across the region to celebrate biodiversity and natural heritage in the South East.
A special event about Bees and pollinators will take place Sunday, May 19 at 3pm (the eve of International Bee Day) at St Patrick’s Gateway, Waterford featuring Eanna ní Lamhna and SETU horticulturalist Yvonne Grace.
The schools events are mostly booked out but there are still places remaining on the family and adult events exploring woodland, rivers, seashore and even city streets. These include Marlfield Estate Clonmel, Castlecomer Discovery Park, Seal Rescue Copper Coast, JFK Arboretum and Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens.
Event highlights
- There will be a launch of an engraved poem celebrating the biodiversity of Kilfarrasy and the Copper Coast with poet Mark Roper and Geopark manager Robbie Galvin on May 24 at 11 am.
- Denis Cullen will lead a city walk starting in Ballybricken, down to John’s Pill river and following the stream up to Supervalu on May 21 at 7pm.
Details are at LivingEarth.ie and booking is essential for all events.
Bealtaine is the Irish word for the month of May and our ancient ancestors celebrated regrowth and regeneration in nature in the festival of Bealtaine. Our festival reminds us of our dependency on our living Earth and our duty to protect it. Founded and coordinated by SETU’s Calmast, it is a partnership of groups in the South East concerned with cherishing our natural heritage and protecting our planet. The festival has been participating in International Day for Biodiversity (May 22) longer than any other Irish initiative.
It is supported by Waterford City and County Council’s festivals fund.
