Dive into Connacht’s exciting Cruinniú na nÓg programme to see what you can enjoy on 23 June.
In just three days the whole country will reverberate with a creative, youthful buzz for the first ever Cruinniú na nÓg!
This Saturday, 23 June, every county, city, town and village will spark with performance, coding, theatre, art, music, readings, screenings, special events and more on this free, youth-friendly day of creativity.
Supported by RTÉ and Local Authorities nationwide, Cruinniú na nÓg celebrates and encourages children and young people to truly get hands on with culture and creativity in their local area.
If you live in Connacht, here are just some of the free, local activities and events you can enjoy:
Galway City is gathering a different sort of tribe with a day of circus workshops teaching acrobatics, juggling, tightwire and even stilt-walking to kids aged 9+. At Galway Arts Centre, theatre and film workshops invite young people to tread the boards and roll the camera with puppetry, black out poetry, improvisation, open mic fun and film screenings too. Or enjoy some street theatre art, by preparing the costumes, flags, visual effects and masks for the Westside Arts Festival parade.
Don’t even try to resist the rhythm in Portumna, County Galway, where bodhrán and tin whistle workshops will have toes tapping all day. Things will be in full swing in Ballinasloe at artist Noel Arrigan’s quirky pendulum inventions workshop. Or get fully immersed in a spectacular site-specific performance at Loughrea Library with ‘Remnants’. This moving and enthralling tale presents three characters whose lives have been disrupted, exploring themes of displacement.
Lose yourself in lovely Leitrim, as Lurganboy Forest is transformed into Neverland for an immersive and interactive performance of Peter Pan. Discover the language of trees and get creative among nature at Rossinver’s intriguing eco-art and Ogham-writing workshop. Or arrive via bicycle in your finest 1930s clothing to celebrate youth, community spirit, music and traditional customs with a good old-fashioned dance at the crossroads in leafy Effrinagh.
In Castlebar, County Mayo, have a right old knees-up with Cruinniú @ The Barracks. Taking place on St. John’s Eve, the town’s military barracks will host lively music, exhibitions, photos, stories, robotics and – as is traditional for the night that’s in it – a bonfire!
Lough Key Forest Park is the place to be in Roscommon. Throughout the day you can meet the likes of Spiderman and Thomas the Tank Engine, enjoy superb storytelling with children’s authors and even create mini masterpieces with kids’ art workshops too.
In sandy-shored Sligo, teens can enjoy a musical afternoon performing with acclaimed songwriter, composer and musician Kieran Quinn in Sligo Library. Theatrics are also on the cards there thanks to Sligo Youth Theatre’s innovative drama workshop. Ballymote will get suitably animated with author and illustrator Alan Nolan, who’ll give readings and top tips in his captivating illustration workshop.
These are just a taste of what’s happening in Connacht for Cruinniú na nÓg, find out what’s on near you and share the fun you’re having on social media using the hashtag #MyCruinniu
