Bealtaine Arts Festival has many attractions

NEWBRIDGE, 3 May 2002: by Brian Byrne. The programme for the Bealtaine Arts Festival in Newbridge includes 'Warmth and Welcome Banners' produced by all the schools in the town. These have been specially commissioned by Bealtaine.

There is also a major exhibition of the work of Fr Henry Flanagan OP - Preacher in Stone (above) - which presents a cross section of the works he created, illustrating his particular talent for carving in both stone and wood. This is being held in the Riverbank Arts Centre.

A Collaborative Visual Arts Exhibition also features in the programme. It is run by Brendan Lane, and includes the work of some of Newbridge's finest up and coming artists, displaying innovative new styles of multicultural celtic design, abstract and spontaneous open ended styles, photography sculpture and more.

A solo exhibition of paintings 21st century celt - by local artist Leona Ni Oireachtaigh, is being presented at the Yap Food Company, Moorefield. A fusion of the old with the new, Leona's paintings depict traditional celtic art images in a modern way through the use of abstraction and vibrant colours.

There are also Bealtaine Café Exhibitions by artists from Newbridge and surrounding areas in local restaurants and coffee shops. A Bealtaine Art Trail guides visitors around the festival.

©2002knn