On June 6 and June 7, Creative Ireland will hold over 27 fun events for Laois kids across the county.

These free events are to mark Cruinniú na nÓg, a flagship initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme’s Creative Youth Plan to enable the creative potential of children and young people.

Each year, young people and families have come together to enjoy, a wide range of creative activities including workshops and tutorials to recitals and readings in every city, town and village across the country.

Delivered in partnership with the 31 Local Authorities and supported by RTÉ, all are invited to participate in a programme of fun, free, creative activities across Laois. See the full list below!

Friday, June 6

Street art workshop- Portlaoise

This Street Art programme is a great way to develop creative expression in young people as it is an art form that often isn’t easily accessible to young people, but has a strong presence within popular culture and youths.

The workshops will include an introduction and brief history of street art and stencil and spray paint art. A short demonstration of how to use a can of spray paint properly and safely, as well as showing an example of how to paint a stencil.

A quick 1 on 1 with each attendee to ensure they are using the equipment safely and properly. 

The young people will then be able to experiment on paper or a panel board using stencils and spray paint with myself and my assistant at hand to help and advice.

Each workshop will take approximately 1-1.5 hours with a 15-30 minute turn around time for the next workshop.

Targeted age group is  10-18. Younger ages will be welcome but they may require a parent for supervision if they are 7 or younger.

Friday June 6th 4pm-8pm

Saturday June 7th 12pm-7pm

For booking email:  elaine@ywilaois.com  or phone Tara 086 0756987

Saturday, June 7:

Wildlife photography, Ballyfin- 10am to 11:30am

Start off the morning of Cruinniú na nÓg in the outdoors, with teen wildlife photographer, Rossa Bracken, for a fun GET OUT!! experience.  Come explore what’s around us and learn how to preserve and protect it, through an interactive nature treasure hunt. This event is set in the Amazing Ballyfin Photography Hides where you are sure to spot some wildlife!

Booking via phone only – 085 1622342

Scratch STEAM workshops, Castletown- 11am-3:30pm

De La Salle Retreat Centre  in Castletown will host hours of STEAM fun on Saturday June 7th. Three workshops will run throughout the day, including, Abstract Art, Makey Make-Coding and Coding with Microbit. 

Booking by text message only on 085 7761090.

Eco-print workshop- Stradbally- 10am-12pm

This unique eco-printing workshop is centred around the idea of taking waste materials and turning them into art. Participants in the workshop take juice and milk cartons that can be difficult to recycle and, in a short space of time, turn them into plates that can be printed from to make beautiful, inventive artworks.

For more information on the artist Leonie Connellan visit www.crumpart.net 

Ages: 9yrs -13yrs. Places: 8-10. To book a place email Laois Arts Office: arts@laoiscoco.ie

Laois Le Chéile- An Céilí Mór- Portlaoise 4:45pm-6:00pm

Laois Le Chéile – Laois Together, a Community Arts Festival presented by Music Generation Laois each year to mark Criunniú na nÓg, will extend programming in 2025 with a Céilí Mór!

Participants will take part in bilingual dance and bodhrán workshops, culminating in a large-scale Céilí (a traditional Irish group dance) with live music!

Under the expert guidance of well known Céilí dance teacher, Maureen Culliton, and with a live band made up of well-known traditional musicians from Co. Laois, this event will light up the grounds of The Fort, a brand new outdoor facility on the grounds of Laois Music Centre, for Cruinniú na nÓg 2025. 

Music Generation Laois will work in partnership with Laois Integration Network, Laois Partnership and the Creative Ireland Laois team, to create a fun, engaging, lively finale to Laois Le Chéile in 2025! 

Comic con Youth Art Competition- Portlaoise- 8:30am-4pm

To celebrate Cruinniú na nÓg and Celtic Con returning in June 2025, you are invited to create a piece of art, inspired by comics, graphic novels or superheroes. This art competition is for all young people up to 18 (living in Laois). The sky is the limit and your artwork can be in any visual art medium such as, drawing, painting, Lego, sculpture, print, collage, digital photography, mixed media, graffiti, etc.

Age categories are: Under 6 | 6-8 | 9-11 | 12-14 | 15-18

Prize: A number of winners across the age categories will be selected and prints of their artworks will be exhibited at Dunamaise Arts Centre, at the R32 Café Showcase Wall on Saturday June 7th and throughout June. Art Packs will be to presented to winners at Celtic Con 2025. The Competition closes midnight Tuesday 27th May.

Shadow Puppet Workshop- Mountmellick- 12:30pm-1:30pm

Shadow Puppet Workshop with Julie-Rose McCormick of McCormick Puppets. A hands-on workshop, to create and design your own shadow puppet, with a demonstration puppet show afterwards. Suitable for ages 8-12 years.