Wicklow to come alive during Cruinniú na nÓg celebrations

Irish Independent

03-06-2025

A flagship initiative of Creative Ireland's 'Creative Youth Plan,' Cruinniú na nÓg aims to enable, celebrate, and encourage the creative potential of children and young people through creative activities. This year's programme features a diverse and extensive line-up of events, activities, and workshops designed to inspire and delight.
Ireland is the first, and only, country in the world to have a national day of free creativity for children and young people under 18.
A workshop on how to make a movie on your mobile phone runs from 10am to 12 noon and from 1pm to 3pm at the ScreenHub in Clermont House, Rathnew and is the perfect way for teens aged 13 to 16 to explore video production using just their smartphone or tablet. Whether they are into YouTube, TikTok, short films, or just love being creative, this workshop helps teens gain confidence and skills to keep making videos at home. Numbers are limited so booking is required.
An event titled 'Comic Masterclass – The Art of Graphic Novels' takes place in Greystones Library from 10am to 12.30pm where participants will learn how to draw comics or graphic novels with artist Nicola Sedgwick. There is no need to bring anything with you on the day. Pre-booking is required by calling 01 2873548 or by dropping into the library.
A bug art and bug hotel workshop takes place in Tinahely Library from 10am to 12 noon. Join local artist Tina Mouritzen in a fun art and creative session. Learn how to draw a bug of your choice and make your own bug hotel using natural and recycled materials. Take your finished hotel home and watch the bugs get comfortable in your garden.
Róisín Bullock will host a musical theatre session at Enniskerry Library from 10.15am to 11.15am and from 11.15am to 12.15am for fun singing and dancing session.
'Me + The Moon' visited a number of selected primary schools in Wicklow for creative workshops on the process of painting and collage. The children's work will then be showcased at an art exhibition at our studio at Killruddery House and Gardens, running from 10am to 4pm.
An introduction into comic-making, for new comic artists takes place in the Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, from 11.30am to 1pm. Encouraging kids to write is no easy feat but comics are one of the best mediums for storytelling. In this 90-minute workshop, they will learn about the key basics on how to create their own comic strip.
Get creative in the beautiful surroundings of Tearmann Community Gardens, Baltinglass. Art for All is a relaxed, open painting and drawing workshop for children and adults alike. Whether you're a seasoned scribbler or just curious to try, everyone is welcome to join in. It runs from 11am to 4pm.
Children from three Rathdrum schools - Rathdrum Boys' National School, St Saviour's National School and Our Lady's National School, will unite for a special performance, showcasing original poetry and music they helped create during their workshops with acclaimed poet Colm Keegan, taking place from 11am to 11.45am and 12 noon to 1.15pm at the RDA Hall in Rathdrum.
A fun and creative musical workshop for children, facilitated by songwriter and musician duo Juliana and Remco takes place in the Tinahely Courthouse Arts from 11am to 1pm. The workshop commences with a familiarization session, where the participants engage in singing and name games. The latter half of the workshop focuses on creating a song as a group and exploring the theme recollection. The workshop culminates in the children performing the song they created.
Making Waves Youth Theatre, Greystones, hosts a youth theatre workshop that takes you behind the scenes to show what happens in a Making Waves drama workshop, taking place from 11.30am to 1.30pm.
Step into a world of wonder with Bubbleéire's Bubble Show—a magical outdoor experience, designed especially for young children ages 3 to 11 years, taking place at Tearmann Community Garden, Baltinglass, from 11.30am to 1.30pm.
Seán Begley will host a kids' comic workshop suitable for 7-12 year olds running from 2pm to 3.15pm and 3.3opm to 4.45pm at Ballywaltrim Library. Using a Powerpoint presentation, Seán goes through the elements that comprise a comic-book, such as word and thought balloons, sound effects, panels, descriptive boxes, artistic styles and genres etc. Participants are then given the opportunity to brainstorm and write basic dialogue between characters in a 4-panel page. This is followed by rough-sketching of comic character heads, in a variety of poses and expressing a range of emotions, with reference to visual examples from a variety of comic books. The focus will then switch to full-body action poses and examine how this translates to a comic-book page.
A 'Battle of the Baltinglass Fairies' and storytelling and craft workshop takes place at Tearmann Community Garden, Parkmore, Baltinglass from 12 noon to 1pm and from 3.15pm to 4.15pm. It's ancient Ireland. Tempers are heated between the fairy clans of Rathcoran and Rathnagree. Come along and hear their story, create your own battle headdress and join in the hunt for stolen fairy treasure.
Join visual artist printmaker Susie Fortune from White Doodle Art for a fun and creative Plein Air Printmaking workshop at the beautiful Powerscourt Estate, designed especially for children aged 7-12, and running from 1.20pm to 3pm.
The library in Wicklow town will be hosting three events. 'Calm and Create' is a session of mindful, messy, fun, creative art, with workshops for 4-7 year olds running from 10.30am to 11.30am and 8-13 year olds from 12 noon to 1pm.
A special summer planting story time takes place at 11am where you will learn all about how bees are so important for our gardens and then you will plant flower seeds to bring home. A design your own book cover workshop for 9-12 year olds runs from 2.30pm to 3.30pm.
Booking is required for all the events and you can contact the library at [e-mail] or 0404 67025.
Greystones library offers the chance to become a world class DJ with Helena Byrne on the decks, running from 1pm to 2.15pm. Pre-booking required by calling 01 2873548 or dropping into the Library.
Do you want to improve your Minecraft skills? Join an intermediate Minecraft workshop in Blessington Library, where Damian and his team will help you learn new tricks and tips to make your gameplay even better. It runs from 1pm to 3pm.
A 'Giant Dreams' presentation also takes place in Tearmann Community Garden, from 2pm to 3pm. It will feature children from the primary schools, secondary schools, Kippure Lodge and Slaney Court International Protection Centres in Baltinglass MD. Step into a world of adventure and folklore as 150 young creators bring the story of Dagda ,the local legendary king, to life in a spectacular performance. The children will embark on an exciting quest to find Dagda's lost magic harp, with vibrant drumming, singing, storytelling, and the appearance of a giant puppet, bringing the legend to life! Expect plenty of audience participation as the search unfolds, leading to a grand celebration of music, community, and fun.
Paul Timoney is a bug-builder, with decades of experience, attaching pipe cleaners and sticky eyes to cartons, using sticky tape and string. He will be holding a workshop at the Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, from 2pm to 4pm.
A workshop on how to build your own cinema experience takes place at the Lalor Centre, Baltinglass, from 4pm to 8pm. It will be followed by a showcase of the West Wicklow Short Movie Competition, where the winner of the €250 voucher for camera equipment will be announced. The evening concludes with a free screening of 'Sing Street' for all competition entrants and those who booked their ticket on Eventbrite.
A performance of Indonesian Gamelan music with shadow puppetry and the opportunity for attendees to learn to play the Gamelan for themselves, takes place at Bray Library from 3pm to 5pm.
Mr. Sands Youth Theatre hosts an open day taster session from 3pm to 4.30pm at Wolfe Tone Community Centre in Bray. At this open day drama session you will get to play games, chat to our existing members, and find out just how amazing and life-changing it can be to join youth theatre.
Me + The Moon will visited a number of selected primary schools in Wicklow for creative workshops on the process of painting and collage. The children's work will then be showcased at an art exhibition at our studio at Killruddery House and Gardens, running from 10am to 4pm.
While all the events are free, pre-booking is still required for some of the offerings. Details are available on the Cruinniú na nÓg website.