Bealtaine 2025 exhibition at Uillinn features a diverse selection of work from the Arts for Health Partnership Programme over the last year, as well as artworks by our weekly Arts for an Active Mind group.

Arts for an Active Mind

This year’s Bealtaine Exhibition at Uillinn features a new collection of work from Arts for an Active Mind reflecting their personal experiences of the Bealtaine Festival theme, Lust for Life. Arts for an Active Mind has taken place weekly at West Cork Arts Centre for 25 years, facilitated by visual artist Paul Cialis.

Arts for Health provides a managed arts programme for older adults accessing healthcare services across West Cork. The programme takes place in widespread, rural locations including Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre, five Day Care Centres, five Community Hospitals, Bantry General Hospital, St. Joseph’s Unit, in community settings and more recently, at home. Managed by Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre, Arts for Health runs all year round and is delivered by a team of professional artists from different disciplines.

Blossoming Beyond the Darkness

The most recent iteration of Sarah Ruttle’s Research and Development project focused on working with people with visual impairments. Sarah created interactive sensory textile resources, and invited musician Kate Liddell to incorporate an audio element.

A Journey of Discovery

A new project based on Sarah Ruttle’s research, as well as creative conversations with staff at Schull Community Hospital. Residents are working together to create sensory aprons inspired by harvesting, mending, and kitchen stories.

Transformative Explorations in Montage

A series of artworks around the theme of transformation created by Arts for Health participants in Clonakilty Community Hospital with visual artists Sharon dipity and Emma Scully.

All At Sea

All At Sea is a selection of sea-themed mono-prints created by residents at Skibbereen Community Hospital.

We had little but we had love

Inspired by conversations around the murmuration of starlings and the dance halls of West Cork, participants at Clonakilty Community Hospital worked collaboratively with visual artists Sarah Ruttle and Sharon dipity to create a beautiful artwork and poetry booklet.

This Story I Tell You Is True

A songbook featuring a song from every county, as well as snippets of conversations held throughout its creation.

On Country Roads

A stories and sound project exploring all the different types of love we encounter in our lives, created by Arts for Health participants at Dunmanway Community Hospital with musician Étáin Collins.

Radio Dedication Hour

In 2024, Radio Dedication Hour brought the 50’s ‘live radio’ experience to community hospitals across West Cork. Have a listen to one of the recorded shows featuring jingles, poetry, songs, and stories. These can be listened to here and will be released weekly on our social media.
https://soundcloud.com/user-386174924/sets/arts-for-health-west-cork

She Sings Her Song in May

Sit and listen to a recording project created by participants at Dunmanway Day Care Centre with musician Étáin Collins. The 10-minute piece explores songs, stories, and sounds of spring and summer.

Bealtaine Festival, Ireland’s national celebration of arts and creativity as we age, this year 2025 marks a milestone 30^th anniversary. The festival invites arts organisations of all kinds to take part by organising events that capture the evolving, playful, and dynamic spirit of Bealtaine. Bealtaine Festival is an initiative by Age & Opportunity, funded by The Arts Council and the HSE. Bealtaine is a pioneering national arts festival that fosters creativity among older people across Ireland through intergenerational collaboration, showcasing older artists, and promoting skills and experiences that can lead to a rich, creative life.

Public Art Series

A series of information panels mapping two new public artworks created by Arts for Health participants and staff working with Michael Greenlaw – The Sun Setting Over Bantry Bay and Summer Wildflowers.