THE Kerry County Council Creative Ireland Kerry/Arts Office has announced another wonderful line up of free events for young people to celebrate Cruinniú na nÓg 2026.
This year, Creative Ireland Kerry invited submissions with a focus on increased public engagement, with many of the events on offer having had a series of workshops prior to the national day programme on Saturday, June 6.
The Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr. Michael Foley said; “This year, the Kerry County Council Creative Ireland Kerry Team places greater emphasis on participation, delivered over a series of sessions, to help grow skills and confidence.”
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He also noted that all the events leading up to Cruinniú na nÓg and on the day are offered free of charge and parents, families, youths and young children are encouraged to partake of the wonderful programme on offer, with plenty to try out for the first time from animation to clay, rap to circus.
Kerry’s Creative Ireland Coordinator, Kate Kennelly advises that the programme this year has plenty on offer to inspire creative minds from toddlers to older teens.
She pointed out that free events take place from Tuosist to Tralee, Listowel, Daingean Uí Chúis, Killarney, Caherdaniel, Killorglin and Kenmare and thanked all the artists, creative practitioners, host venue partners, families and children that will deliver the creative magic on the day.
The Creative Kerry Team at the Arts Office has worked to help coordinate the 30 events across Kerry this year and Kate thanked Emma Carmody, Niamh De hÓra, and Clive O’Callaghan at the Arts Office for helping bring these events to fruition.
To book events go to https://cruinniu.gov.ie/events/location/kerry/
Some of the events on offer include:
• Clay Creatures & Magical Worlds at Collis Sandes House, Tralee
• Draw Sound, Me and the Moon, Collis Sandes House, Tralee
• Rap Workshop / Speak Up Sessions by Music Generation Kerry at KCYS Youth Centre, Denny Street, Tralee
• Graffiti Art Workshops ‘Wonder Walls’ Síamsa Tíre
• The World of Beatrix Potter, through Origami with Rebecca Lyons, Tralee Library
• The Happy Hoopla, Siamsa Tíre
• My Culture, my Circus, Siamsa Tíre
• Traveller Youth Voices in Song & Story, Síamsa Tíre
• Seashore with Lucy Taylor – Caherciveen Library
• ‘Happy Mess’ – Sneem Community Centre
• Little Hearts – Tuosist Parish Hall
• Magic Moves – Caherdaniel Community Hall
• Comic Book Workshop with Mari Rolin – Killarney Library
• Mindfulness through Art – Kenmare Library
• Explore Animation with Amy Louise O’Callaghan, Killarney Library
• Take the Stage with Grace Foley– ANAM (Killarney Arts & Cultural Centre)
• Sonar Film Making Workshop with Jesse Gilbert – ANAM, Killarney
• Stemwizz Workshops with Declan Keogh in Listowel Library
• Create your Own Graphic Novel Panels & Pencils: Godfrey Coppinger at Kerry Writer’s Museum
• Make a Whirlygig: Makermeet, Dingle Library
• My Window of Dreams, with Marie Cronin, Killorglin Library
• Secret Garden Art Day, Ardea Gardens, with Paul Connelly
• Wild Connections Zoe Uí Fhaoláin & Maneula Dei Grandi, An Díseart Gardens,
• Beyond the Surface: Halla Le Chéile, Paul Egan, Art Workshop and Exhibition, Co. Kerry, V92 DK4C.
• Sound Story – Drum Dance Ireland 3-4pm Castlemaine Urs Wenk, ‘Pleasuredome’- House of Drum Dance V93V3A4 (Inch Beach)
