Brokeback Mountain writer to speak at Bealtaine Festival

AWARD-WINNING author Annie Proulx has given her backing to a groundbreaking Irish festival celebrating creativity in older age.

The American writer of The Shipping News and Brokeback Mountain will travel to Dublin to talk at the Abbey Theatre as part of the Bealtaine Festival.

The agenda-setting event — now in its 12th year — is unique to Ireland and has inspired other countries to start up similar celebrations.