The Bealtaine Living Earth Festival celebrates biodiversity and natural heritage in the South-East of Ireland. The festival incorporates four very important international days. 18th May is Fascination with Plants Day, 20th May is European Maritime Day, 20th May is World Bee Day, and 22nd May  UN Day for Biological Diversity. This is the second year of The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, which is about preventing, halting and reversing the degradation of ecosystems worldwide.

Bealtaine Living Earth Festival derives its name from the ancient Celtic festival of Bealtaine when our ancient ancestors were by great necessity bound to the seasons and moods of the Earth and in May celebrated the rebirth of life.  This festival introduces people to the wonders of our planet at the start of the summer so they can continue to enjoy and explore throughout the summer. The theme of this year’s day is Solutions in Nature and many of the events show how biodiversity management benefits us all in many ways.

Bealtaine Living Earth Festival runs next year from the 18th-26th May 2024. This will be the 20th year of Ireland’s biggest biodiversity and natural heritage festival. The Bealtaine Living Earth Festival is a cooperative partnership of organisations (public bodies and NGOs) concerned with the stewardship of the natural environment in the South-East of Ireland. This festival celebrates our natural heritage and environment and highlights the relationship between sustainability, biodiversity and natural resources.

The festival is a unique partnership between visitor centres, environmental organisations and interested individuals in the south-east and around the country. Our partners include SETU Carlow, Waterford City and County Council, Office of Public Works,  Irish Wildlife Trust, Garter Lane Arts Centre, Lismore Heritage Centre,  and many other civic and voluntary organisations dotted throughout the region as well as research groups from within Waterford Institute of Technology such as Mammals in a Sustainable Environment (MISE). A comprehensive list of partners can be seen below.

The festival is coordinated by CALMAST, the leading centre for the promotion of science, maths, engineering and technology in Ireland. CALMAST acts as the STEM Hub for the Southeast of Ireland and attracts over 20,000 visitors annually to science related events in the region. CALMAST organises four regional festivals annually- The Robert Boyle Summer School, South East Science Festival (Science Week), Waterford Engineering Week, Bealtaine Living Earth Festival. They are also the all-island coordinators for Maths Week Ireland, which has its 13th year this year. In 2019 Maths Week Ireland had over 400,000 engaged with maths activities.

Bealtaine Living Earth Festival is brought to you by Calmast at SETU. Visit the Calmast website HERE