Cruinniú na nÓg, an annual day of free creative activity for children and teenagers, will take place on 12 June.

Having run for the past three years, last year’s events took place online.

In line with current public health guidelines, events this year will take place both online and on location.

Events will be held across the country.

They include; the Circus Factory in Carraigaline, Co Cork, where you can learn juggling and hula-hooping skills; a live interactive workshop on upcycled clothes in Co Louth and Dublin Zoo are inviting young people to explore the world of animals without backbones.

Cruinniú na nÓg is a collaboration between the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, the Creative Ireland Programme, local authorities and RTÉ.

Announcing details of the day, Minister Catherine Martin said Cruinniú na nÓg provides an opportunity for Ireland’s 1.2 million children and young people to be creative.

“The emphasis is always on participation and trying something new – like knitting, drumming, stop-start animation, contemporary dance and so much more. All events are free and are accessible online,” she added.

Call to action

With the online programme of events, a number of calls to action have been developed for this year’s Cruinniú na nÓg.

Children, young people and their families are invited to follow the calls to action in their own homes and gardens on and leading up to 12 June.

Some of these include:

  • Knitting Across the Nation, where Airfield Trust in Dublin will send out 400 wools packs, with wool from their own flock of sheep. The packs are designed to foster a love of crafting, sustainability and creativity in young people.
  • Nenagh Children’s Film Festival will work with Gráinne Fordham of Oscar nominated Cartoon Saloon. Children and young people will learn the the latest stop-motion animation skills in a series of online workshops.
  • For Céilí in the Kitchen, Áirc Damhsa will deliver a series of Meitheal Workshops, allowing young people, youth groups and schools to take part in a set programme of dancing in the four weeks leading up to Cruinniú na nÓg.

    • A full programme of events is available here.

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