Sandcastle building in Achill, robot making at the Linenhall, art classes at the Michael Davitt Museum, song writing in Westport, coding in Belmullet, wool craft at Killawala, drumming in Cong, wildcraft in Kilkeeran, virtual artists in Louisburg, a treasure hunt in Ballinglen – these are just a few of the events for children taking place next Saturday for the Cruinniú na nÓg Festival.
Mayo is no slouch in the creativity stakes – just look at our impressive array of award-winning writers, not to mention our amazingly expressive artists, multi-talented musicians, and theatrical titans. So it makes sense to celebrate and harness that creativity in the most colourful way possible for Cruinniú na nÓg – Creative Ireland’s flagship programme – which takes place nationally on June 15.
Cruinniú na nÓg encompasses a wide-ranging and exciting programme of events – with the celebration of creativity for young people at its heart. The line-up of events planned throughout Mayo includes performance, coding, theatre, art, music, readings, screenings, special events and much more.
Mayo will truly come alive for the day – a day of celebrating and encouraging children and young people to take part in cultural and creative events around the county. And young Mayo minds will have their pick of the creative fun this year!
Mayo Creative Ireland Coordinator Austin Vaughan said: "Ireland is the first, and only, country in the world to have a national day of free creativity for children and young people under eighteen and in Mayo we have more variety than any county in Ireland with 27 events covering all areas of creativity from a moon landing art workshop to wildcraft and from stencilling and film making to pottery and collage. We even have a film premiere! And there will also be a few surprises. You never know where a flash mob may appear! Hint – the new Castlebar swimming pool!”
The flagship event will be Cruinniu at Love Lannagh, which sees the arts and adventure festival team up with Creative Ireland to create the most exciting day for children in the Mayo calendar, at Lough Lannagh in Castlebar - Glastonbury meets the Wild Atlantic Way as organiser Helen O'Hara calls it. The Linenhall Arts Centre will also have a full day of creative events for young people. And in Ballina artist Breda Mayock is creating an art installation that will blow the minds of our young people.
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. The festival is organised by the Creative Ireland team of Mayo County Council who have been working tirelessly for months to put this festival of family fun together. So make sure to part in the wide range of fun, free, creative activities for one day only on June 15th . As the great Maya Angelou said: “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
Cruinniú na nÓg takes place in Mayo on Saturday, June 15. All events are free. Full programme at www.creativeireland.gov.ie
