Cruinniú na nÓg events held across Longford

Last Saturday, June 15 was Cruinniú na nÓg, the national programme set aside to encourage creativity in young people. All across Longford events celebrating the festival took place.

In the week leading up to the day itself there were a range of activities on offer across Longford as part of the initiative.

Events included a Bob Ross masterclass for aspiring artists, a writers workshop, creative artistic programmes, and African traditional musical instrument training and a digging up the past workshop.

In Edgeworthstown both young and young at heart were invited to engage with an innovative art installation for all.

The Edgeworthstown event is part of a Creative Places Research and Development programme. The initiative is seeking creative engagement from the multicultural and multi-talented community of Edgeworthstown.

The Mostrim Youth Players Theatre Skill Workshop engaged children and teens, age 10 and upwards from Mostrim Youth Players for a skills workshop with a trained youth theatre facilitator.

Skills developed, such as stage presence and voice projection, prepared the young people for an end-of-day production staged for parents.

Mad Hatters at Longford library saw Ukrainian artist Alla Shmuhovska provide a unique exhibition for Cruinniú na nÓg of 19th and 20th century French, American and Irish hats.

This unique exhibition forms the inspiration for a series of workshops which will introduce children to methods of making hats, bonnets, and headpieces. The children will produce a “Mad Hat” of their own, and also learn about this section of the fashion industry and its history.

Granard Butter Market hosted an Art Day for children and young people under 18, aiming to encourage them to enjoy art for free.

This workshop took place in one of Granard’s most historic venues. A variety of art media were used to promote free artistic thinking among children and young adults.

Longford Library saw the Fairy Mary and the Woodland of Longford workshop.

Hosted by Longford illustrator Angelicka Florkiewicz, the writer and illustrator spoke about her wonderful children’s book “Fairy Mary and the Woodland of Longford”.

This beautiful book will help educate children about nature around them and encourage them to spend more time outdoors in nature.

The launch of “Fairy Mary and the Woodland of Longford” will take place in Longford Library during Cruinniú na nÓg with book readings and a children’s drawing competition on the day.