To celebrate the Irish summer festival of Bealtaine, Queensland Irish Association will be having a family-friendly get together in Finn McCool’s Fortitude Valley Irish pub and restaurant, from 12pm to 4pm on Saturday, May 11th.

Bealtaine is the Irish May Day festival, marking the beginning of summer. It is celebrated with bonfires, collecting wildflowers and dancing. There will be a flower theme so think Hawaiian shirts, flower accessories and flowery clothing. There will be Celtic-themed colouring pages for children. They will crown the King and Queen of May, to be chosen from among the best-dressed children.

The day will also feature a very special guest – cultural and dance historian Dr Heather Blasdale Clarke.

Dr Heather Blasdale Clarke is a cultural historian who has dedicated her career to studying and understanding the rich cultural heritage of Europe- an dance in Australia. In 2018, she expanded her expertise by conducting doctoral research on the culture of early Australian convicts, further enhancing her knowledge in the field and leading to the development of the hugely successful museum exhibition Dancing in Fetters: the culture of convict dance, which toured across Australia. She also delves into the Anglo and Celtic traditions of step dancing in Australia. Dr Blasdale Clarke will be bringing musician and dancer friends along.

Entry is free and all are welcome at Bealtaine!