Latest news with #CreativePlacesEnniscorthy
Irish Independent
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Wexford pop-up ‘Play Day' brings the community together
The pop up event was organised by the Enniscorthy Municipal District, Creative Places Enniscorthy and FDYS and was held to mark National Play Day 2025, The aim of National Play Day is to promote play and recreation opportunities for children and young people across the country. The theme this year is 'The Power of Play', This year's theme highlights the many benefits of play for children's development, including physical, social, emotional and cognitive growth. It should raise awareness of the vital role that play does play in a child's life. Each year the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth provides funds for Local Authorities to engage in National Play Day. Following the pop-up event, part of the funding from the Department will be used to purchase durable play equipment for community settings. Children heartily engaged with a number of games including tug of war, sack races and had fun with colourful fabric. The peace park was an optimal location to host the festivities as large instruments were installed last year to improve physical activity through playful activities, adding colour and more interest into the park. There is a bench shaped xylophone, flowers that make noise with movement and plenty of bells to keep children entertained. A number of councillors were in attendance including Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cllr Patricia Byrne, and Cllr John O'Rourke who joined in on the games. Before the pop-up event began, funding was also provided for a morning training workshop for people volunteering or working with children and young people that was hosted by play strategist Martin O'Donoghue from Cork.
Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Vibrant midsummer celebration launched on picturesque Vinegar Hill in Wexford
The event, which pays homage to the historical site and celebrates midsummer, will take place on Saturday, June 7, featuring a colourful carnival-style procession that will make its way to the summit of the hill. Created by young people from across Wexford, the piece will culminate in an immersive spectacle featuring drumming, ceremonial dance, and song. The event, which is organised by Creative Places Enniscorthy, gives young people the opportunity to collaborate with professional artists, prop makers, and musicians. Artist Facilitator Mary Doyle shared her excitement at the launch: "On June 7, the historic slopes of Vinegar Hill will come alive with an extraordinary pilgrimage to its summit. As dusk falls, this fantastical procession will weave together art, music, and performance, all led by the creativity of Wexford's young people. This year's theme is the return of the Gorse Goddess; we can't wait to welcome her to the hill!' The Night Belongs to Youth is billed as a highlight of this year's Cruinniú na nÓg, the national day of creativity for young people, which will see over 50 free events take place across Wexford and over 1,000 events taking place across the country. Speaking at the launch, Deryn O' Callaghan, Director of Creative Places Enniscorthy praised the vast creativity of all the young participants and their connection to the history of the town. 'The entire event has been led by the youth of Wexford. We are very mindful of the history of the area and the significance of the hill to the town, and we wanted to reflect that.' "We would like to see this continue into the future as an annual summer gathering centred around the alchemy of ceremony, music, theatre, and youth-led initiatives. This is the rebirth of the kind of ancient festivals that would have taken place in Ireland around Bealtaine and mid-summer,' she added. As part of the event, artist Mayumi Nakabayashi has been commissioned to create a site-specific land art sculpture. 'The artwork has been created in collaboration with young people from the area,' Deryn explained. 'The piece will take the form of a chain or woven rope made from plants, which will create a circle around the top of Vinegar Hill.' "The chains will be carried by the participants of the event as part of the ceremony, serving as a symbol of connection and communication between humans and nature, as well as between the communities in Enniscorthy.'
