The word Bealtaine is still used in the Irish language and translates as the month of May. The name is said to derive from Old Irish, meaning "bright fire." Bealtaine festival takes place in May every year and is a celebration of the arts and creativity as we age.

Bealtaine Festival features performances, exhibitions, discussions, workshops and readings by artists working in different art forms all over Ireland. Bealtaine Festival engages people to foster and inspire creativity among older people and to promote the skills, experiences and exposure that can lead to a rich creative life. 

This

dlr Libraries will begin to re-open library spaces from 10 May

Please note that Deansgrange Library is currently closed for essential roof maintenance and is due to re-open at the end of May, subject to completion of works.

You can borrow and return items from our other libraries during this time.

Have you used our dlr Libraries app?

As well as brilliant features such as keeping track of the whole family's library cards and loans in one place on your phone, we now have a great new function. You can now use the app to self-issue and self-return your own items with your smart phone, perfect for when you are on the go or if you wish to avoid interactions with self-service machines or library staff at this time.

Once you have activated the “Self-check feature” in the app, you can simply hold your phone next to the tag on the book or library item you wish to borrow, and the book will be issued

Cruinniú na nÓg 2021

Ireland is the first, and only, country in the world to have a national day of free creativity for children and young people under 18. Cruinniú na nÓg is a flagship initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme’s Creative Youth Plan to enable the creative potential of children and young people.

This Cruinniú na nÓg 2021 there are an abundance of wonderful events online to choose from delivered by dlr. If you would rather get outside, why not discover and explore two wonderful new Scéal Trails, one in Cabinteely and one in the west of the county in Dundrum, both will launch on Saturday 12 June.

Right to Read is a national programme to promote literacy and reading development for people of all ages and backgrounds. Launched as part of the Opportunities for All: the public library as a catalyst for economic, social and cultural development 2013-2017 libraries strategy, it currently includes four national programmes designed to promote children's reading and literacy. These are:

• Spring into Storytime, runs for month of April every year
• Summer Reading, runs June-September every year
• Children’s Book Festival, runs for month of October every year
• Family Time at your Library, runs for month of

June Bank Holiday

Summer Stars is the national annual reading incentive programme run in all public libraries across Ireland, from the middle of June until the end of August. It encourages children to keep reading during the school holidays and is available free of charge.

All children are invited to take part by registering at their local library. Every child taking part gets a Summer Stars Reading card and is challenged to read 8 books. Stamps are awarded for every book read, and there are some great fun incentives for those who complete a Reading Card, which are also entered into a prize draw. The Grand Draw

Theme:   “How I like to play…”

This summer we want it to be all about play, in the real world and in your imagination. We want to know where and how you like to play, and what you remember as being your best play experiences. Perhaps even imagine a play experience you haven’t yet had!
You can tell us all about this theme in a number of ways; write a story or a poem, draw, paint, or create in 3D format and submit to dlr Libraries & Parks creative competition to be in with a chance to win some great prizes.
Feel free to let your imagination go everywhere and anywhere. Your ideas may well be used to