The fifth annual Bealtaine festival - a month-long celebrations of creativity in older people - is going on throughout the month of May. This year's festival involves more than 150 events in 26 counties, including two in Northern Ireland. Events include readings, exhibitions, a writing workshop, musical events and more.

People aged 55 and over are invited to participate in all of the events, most of which are free. A variety of arts and interests are represented in this year's festival in such activities as writers' workshops for older people, the sixth annual art exhibition by members of the Federation of Active Retirement and storytelling workshops. Numerous tours have also been organised to such places as the Dublinia exhibit at Christ Church Cathedral and a film tour over several days at the Irish Film Centre in Dublin. For more information, contact Age and Opportunity (tel: (01) 837 0570).