Bealtaine – May Day Celebration
A Celtic Goddess storytelling journey with Máire É / Mary Ellen
Join us for an immersive and inclusive celebration honouring Ériu, Ireland’s soverign and sensual goddess, who’s tale is ‘fite fuaite’ interwoven with the name of Ireland (Ériu’s land) and the fertility of the Sheela na Gig stone carvings.
Máire É / Mary Ellen will be joined by the harpist and artist Sheila Moylan, whose current Celtic inspired art exhibition – CLOCHA GEALA – will also be available to view in the Centre on the day.
Doors: 11am; Starts: 11.30am; Ends: 1pm
Tickets: £13
About the Event
This May, we continue Mary Ellen’s Celtic Wheel events with Bealtaine, a celebration rooted in Cnoc Uisnigh—the Hill of Uisneach in Westmeath, near the farm where Mary Ellen was born and raised.
Here at Ireland’s Sacred Centre, over 5,000 people will gather around a tall tine cnámh—bonfire to mark the start of Mí Bealtaine—the month of May. This event embraces the joy and vitality associated with Bealtaine, highlighting the blooming of nature and the communal spirit of welcoming the new season.
What is Bealtaine?
This ancient fire festival rekindles the bond between people and place, spirits and sinsear—ancestors, under Ériu’s powerful presence. Her resting place there at Aill na Mireann—The Stone of Divisions, reminds us of her tírghrá—deep love for the land itself. After all she gifted her name to it, for Ireland was first known as Ériu’s land.
What to Expect?
You can expect another captivating mythological retelling from Mary Ellen, where Goddess Ériu and Amergin are united with fierce filíocht—poetry binding them and the Tuatha Dé to the sliabhta—mountains and the Síoga, go deo—forever.
As Mary Ellen’s scéalta—stories guide you abhaile—home to yourself, her Gaeilge glimmers and the rhythm of the Irish language will stir something deep within, awakening the healing echoes of your mother tongue, stored within your bones and blood.
Ériu embodies grá—love and calls you to follow our croí—heart. With Mary Ellen’s unique Mnátra Meditation you will feel beo—alive to your feminine energy. She’ll awaken your samhlaíocht—imagination as she invokes suaimhneas—ease.
Bígí linn—join us as we welcome the warmth and flowering fuinneamh—energy of summer!
About Máire É / Mary Ellen
Máire É / Mary Ellen has deep ‘fréamhacha’ roots in both Westmeath and West London and stands at the ‘croí’ heart of the current Gael-wave.
She is passionate about unearthing the ‘scéalta’ stories and ‘feasa’ wisdom that lie beneath indigenous Irish mythology. She skillfully fuses her studies of ancient goddesses with her Gaeilge knowledge and deep meditations into a map for modern living.
In this she gifts us an accessible and enjoyable way to get in sync with the seasons, whilst boosting our hope, healing and shared empathy.
We are ‘bród’ proud to partner with her across numerous events and courses in a shared mission to engage our local community and diaspora in the ‘teanga beo’ living language of Ireland, an Ghaeilge.
Mary Ellen also runs an Irish Meditation Course as well as the informal monthly Irish language social event What The Focal (WTF), here at the Irish Cultural Centre.
About Sheila Moylan
Sheila Moylan is an Irish harpist, singer, and songwriter based in London. Performing with the Irish harp and a rich alto voice, she brings a distinctive sound to Irish traditional, folk, and contemporary songs, reworking old material and reinterpreting modern songs through a folk tradition.
Her work is deeply rooted in Irish myth and landscape, especially the ancient heritage of the Boyne Valley and Newgrange. She performs regularly in intimate venues across London and at the Irish Cultural Centre, where she is also a singing tutor.
Alongside her music, Sheila is also a visual artist. Her current exhibition, CLOCHA GEALA, explores the myths and “bright stones” of Newgrange through sculpture and drawing, bringing ancient Irish stories into a contemporary artistic space.
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