Cruinniú na nÓg is taking place all over Ireland on Saturday June 23 and as the national day of creativity for children and young people, the programme in Kerry looks set to enthuse new comers and creative enthusiasts alike.
The programme offers a fine selection of free events from 11.00 to 5.00pm 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
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Co-ordinated by the Arts Office at Kerry County Council with support from Creative Ireland, the day is set as an annual celebration nationally from this year onwards.
“It is a great opportunity for our young people to get creative and meet new people. Communities and organisations across the county are set to take part and it is also a chance to connect and celebrate our individual creativity”, stated Kate Kennelly, the Creative Ireland Co-ordinator and Arts Officer at Kerry County Council.
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 are 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 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 meanwhile there is plenty for young musicians at the Con Curtin Music Festival in Brosna. In Milltown, Fleadh Cheoil Chiarraí will host a family playshop while the Iveragh Youth Choral will perform in Killorglin.
Cahirciveen plays host to a number of events including a Storytime and Arts & Crafts at the Library, while Innabubble presents a multi-sensory interactive theatre show also at Cahirciveen Library. On the streets of the town puppet shows, face painting and drumming workshops will take place.
In Kenmare Theatre Games Ireland present ‘How to Eat a Child’ 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 Killarney Library at 2.00pm. There are 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 2.00-5.00pm.
“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 Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, 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”.