Cruinniú na nÓg offers creative day out
CRUINNIÚ na nÓg, the national day of creativity for children and young people, is taking place nationwide on Saturday, June 23, and the programme in Kerry capture the interests of newcomers and creative enthusiasts alike.
The programme offers a selection of free events from 11am to 5pm in the towns of Tralee, Killarney and Listowel, with events also taking place in Dingle, Sliabh Luachra, Milltown, Brosna, Cahirciveen, Killorglin, and Kenmare. Brochures and posters are being distributed across the county this week, and the events are listed on www.creative.ireland.ie/cruinniu, with updates provided on Facebook and Twitter through @KerryCoArts and via @creativeirl #mycruinniu
Co-ordinated by the Arts Office at Kerry County Council, with support from Creative Ireland, the day will be an annual celebration from this year onwards.
“It is a great opportunity for our young people to get creative and meet new people,” Creative Ireland Co-ordinator and Kerry County Council Arts Officer Kate Kennelly said. “Communities and organisations across the county are set to take part, and it is also a chance to connect and celebrate our individual creativity.”
In Tralee, the day includes Storytime at Tralee Library and a creative writing workshop, while a ‘Horrible History Tour’ as well as a ‘Punch and Judy’ show will take place at Kerry County Museum. Between Siamsa Tíre and Tralee Town Park there will be both youth choral performances, a ‘Create in the Park’ event and a youth dance performance with dancer in residence Maria Svennson. Meanwhile in Listowel, a ‘Fighting Words Creative Writing Workshop’ will take place at Seanchaí-Kerry Writers’ Museum alongside a giant balloon art sculpture. Balloon art workshops have also been organised and a youth choral performance will take place at St John’s Theatre.
Theatre, music and film workshops will take place throughout the day at St John’s and there will also be plenty for young musicians at the Con Curtin Music Festival in Brosna. In Milltown, Fleadh Cheoil Chiarraí will host a family play shop while the Iveragh Youth Choral will perform in Killorglin. Cahirciveen plays host to a number of events including ‘Storytime and Arts and Crafts at the Library’, while in Cahirciveen, Innabubble presents a multi-sensory interactive theatre show. On the streets of the town, puppet shows, face-painting and drumming workshops will take place.
In Kenmare Theatre, Games Ireland presents at the Carnegie Arts Centre, and An Diseart in Dingle plays host to a youth choral performance inspired by Irish and Hungarian folk and classical music.
Killarney hosts a full programme of events, starting off with a games, film and writing workshop at the Schoolhouse at Muckross Traditional Farms. Back in the town, a Mandela workshop has been organised by Southwest Counselling and KDYS who are also hosting a Sing Together Youth Choral performance at their premises in Fair Hill. An ‘ Adventure in Science’ activity-based programme will take place at the library at 2pm. There will be video art film screenings at the Schoolhouse at Muckross Traditional Farms, and Wild Things at Killarney House have organised a creation station for an afternoon of WildArts and Explorations from 2pm to 5pm.
“There really is something for everyone and we encourage young people and families alike to get involved and take part in events which have been organised free to the public”, stated the Kerry County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr John Sheahan. “We are delighted to see Creative Ireland reaching out to communities through the Cruinniú na nÓg festival and delighted that our communities, our venues and our artists in Kerry will benefit from the national programme”.