Celebrating children's creativity for free at Crinniú na nÓg in Laois

Cruinniú na nÓg Laois promises to be  day of creativity for children and young people under 18 on Saturday, June 10.

Laois County Council says the day celebrates and encourages participation in culture and creativity through ‘doing’, ‘making’, and ‘creating’ from visual and performing arts to workshops and adventures in heritage, libraries, culture, science and technology, music and dance.

The council says events are free, local and activity-based at venues right around the county on Saturday, June 10.

Laois Libraries have organised a diverse range of workshops  for Criunniú which are jam-packed with activities

Abbeyleix Library –  The MaKey MaKey and Scratch Workshop on Saturday 10th June at 10.30am-12.30pm. Suitable for children age 8-12yrs. Invent your own multimedia instrument with everyday objects, the MaKey Makey circuit board and Scratch, a block based coding language in this hands-on workshop. Booking essential. Contact us abbeyleixlibrary@laoiscoco.ie

Mountrath Library will host an interactive storytime session with fun, stories play, and interaction with storyteller Paul Timoney in the library for ages 4/11 from 10.15-11.15 am .

Bookings please -mountrathlibrary@laoiscoco.ie

Portlaoise  Library will host an interactive storytime session with fun, stories play, and interaction with storyteller Paul Timoney in the library for ages 4/11 from 10.15-11.15 am.

Poems and Stories with Paul Timoney

“Why was my hat eaten by a seagull? How long did it take the fifty-headed man to brush his teeth? What atrocious crime got the potato sent to jail? Who on Earth were The Three Lidl Pigs??? 

For the answers to these and other important questions please come along. 

Saturday 10th June at 2pm. To book a place email portlaoiselibrary@laoiscoco.ie Bookings please -portlaoiselibrary@laoiscoco.ie

Rathdowney Library will feature a Puppet show from 11-12pm in the library by well know Puppeteer Julie Rose Mc Cormick . The show “Beauty and the Beast “is “A  classic tale of not judging people because they are different “

Beauty and her family move house after losing all their money, but one day her father meets a strange creature called Beast , who helps him but wants to meet a girl with a good heart , because only she can break the spell cast on him, which will soon kill him if he does not get the kiss to break the spell. But will Beauty be able to save him?

All are welcome for this family show,  booking advised -email rathdowneylibrary@laoiscoco.ie or phone 050546852

Portarlington Library – Lego Robotics Workshop -Join MakerMeet and explore different ways to use Lego to build a moving robot! This workshop is a very hands-on introduction to using Lego, robotics, how they are used and basic coding. Saturday June 10th 10:30-11:30am. Suitable for 7-10 yrs. Free workshop but limited spaces so booking is essential. Call 057 8643751 or email portarlingonlibrary@laoiscoco.ie to book a place.

Mountmellick Library    Makermeet will hold a non-traditional music workshop from 12.30-1.30 p.m. MakerMeet will bring a wide variety of very unusual instruments and ideas on how to make sounds, resonance, reverberations and music. These include Otamatones, programmable colour recognising rings, real fruit and much for. Participants can explore all these and begin to make their own sounds by looking differently at how audio works!

Go Fly a Kite will hold a workshop  in Mountmellick for 5–11-year-olds where you can design your kite and take it home to fly over the summer months.

Places are limited for both workshops so book ahead on 0578644572 or email mountmellicklibrary@laoiscoco.ie.

Portlaoise Library will also hold “Go Fly Your Kite” workshops

Children aged 5-11 years old. Come and join ‘Go Fly Your Kite’ to celebrate Cruinniú na nÓg 2023 a free day of letting your creativity flow .  An opportunity to design by hand or trace your favourite picture onto a real blank kite that really does fly.  It’s a blank canvas to go creative crazy. We then build your kite and take it outside and watch it fly majestically up into the sky.  A day to be proud of your kite creation. Spaces are limited, early booking is recommended.-portlaoiselibrary@laoiscoco.ie

Stradbally library – The Last Beekeeper Storytelling Event

The Library in Stradbally a re delighted to host an this Engaging and entertaining storytelling  event with with author Johnny Renko. Two best friends, one great journey, the adventure of a lifetime. Their quest, to find The Last Beekeeper, and save the world. Age range 9-12 years.Starting Time:12:00pm-booking- stradballylibrary@laoiscoco.ie

Launch of Laois Libraries Storystroll  

Laois County Libraries will be launching their summer storystroll  in The Peoples Park, Portlaoise  at 12.noon on Criunniú na nóg -June 10th  featuring Local author Donna Mills. Join Donna at 12 noon  for the launch of the library Summer Storystroll and exhibition in the People’s Park, Portlaoise, with an interactive, fun storytelling session. Donna’s first chidlrens publication, “What Can I Do”, has been brought to life on a series of storyboards throughout parks and outdoor areas.This colorful trail will encourage reading, storytelling, literacy, and play during the summer months, and will be displayed in other public parks and amenities throughout the county during the summer months season.

Laois Arthouse, Stradbally are inviting all young people to take part in the FREE Cruinniú na nÓg events that will be taking place in Stradbally on Saturday 10th June 2023. Below is various workshops hosted by Stradbally Library and Laois Arthouse Gallery, Stradbally.

“City of Dreams “Create a model city using geometric shapes from various materials with with artist Evgeny Chubat at 10am. The activity aims to develop creativity, ability to build logical chains, and spatial reasoning. Age range for 5-18 years.

Adelle Hickey will host a Printmaking workshop at 11.am .Create prints through different techniques of mark making. Mono printing and overlaying will be explored to create placement and repeat patterns with artist Adelle Hickey. Age range 5-18 years.

A sustainable textile workshop at 12 noon is being facilitated Niamh Bakker . Create a woven piece of art make out of sticks and found/donated wool. The aim of the workshop is to educate the young people about textile art with artist Niamh Bakker. Age range 5-18 years.

Limited spaces available, booking is essential. To book a place, email creativelaois@laoiscoco.ie or phone 057 868 9386

Mountrath Youth Theatre invites you to take part in a taster workshops in youth theatre.Experience the creativity of youth drama in these high-energy workshops. Explore your imagination and self-expression by devising, creating and performing.

There will be three workshops suitable for ages 8-15!

The workshops are free but booking is essential. Book now by contacting Mountrath Youth Theatre at 087 6184404 or email mountrathyt@gmail.com

Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise, features Slapdash Circus Show by Symmetry Circus at 2pm

Join Aoife and Ria from Symmetry Circus. They have a bag load of eye popping tricks to show you what circus means these days! Featuring acrobatics, audience interaction, physical comedy, crazy skipping, hula hoops and slapstick fighting this is a show which is fun for all the family.

Advance Booking recommended on 057 866 3355 | www.dunamaise.ie

Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise, 1-4pm features Music Generation Laois (MGL) and Laois Integration Network (LIN) celebrate new communities in Laois. Join us for a jam packed afternoon of early years music, MGL Ukulele Circle, MGL Bodhran/Drumming Circle, and ‘Beat Goes On’ body percussion workshop.

Experience the colourful and uplifting  performance of the Malva Ukrainian Choir on the Main stage with Open mics and Laois Partnership Afterschool performances  , arts and crafts activities and so much more. All details and family programme available at www.musicgenerationlaois.ie. Supported by Creative Ireland, Laois Partnership Company, and Laois County Council.

Buíoch Workshops in Laois Music Center

Join Laois band Buíoch in Laois Music Center on June 10th from 10-1pm  for their composition   workshop for children and young people aged 10-18  along with a short gig where they will  play some original tunes off their  album to inspire the young people to create new music. Working in groups , each group will be taught about the different processes that Buíoch  have gone through to write their  music. Each group will be taught about chord structure, Key signature, Time Signature and staff notation and any relevant theory pertaining to Traditional Irish music.

Please register your interest at buiochtrad@gmail.com

Cruinniú na nÓg comes to Treo Nua , Knockmay in Portlaoise, 12–4.00 pm for an exciting afternoon of drumming workshops (7/8 yrs), clown workshops(1/8 yrs),  spot prizes, face painting, and so much more. In addition, the “BIG DIG” will be arriving with The School of Irish Archaeology  showcasing a Viking DIG from 12 noon.

For more information and/or to book a workshop: Erica -Treo Nua Centre, 057 868 6145 or Joan – Portlaoise Family Resource Centre, 057 868 6151. This family event has been created in collaboration with the young people and their families of Knockmay Estate, Treo Nua Centre and Portlaoise Family Resource Centre, Laois Arts Office and Music Generation Laois.

Makeport, Portarlington, times -TBC Virtual Reality and Podcast demos at Makeport makerspace for ages 8-12 and 13-18 showcasing how VR technology works with Oculus Rift headsets and also an introduction to making your own podcasts utilising green screen technology.

These workshops are in collaboration with the Makeport Team and LOETB’s Local Creative Youth Partnership. Places limited, booking essential at info@makeport.ie.

For a full listing of all activities and information on how to join in for Cruinniú na nÓg – go to laois.ie/cruinniu2023 and also to the national website at www.cruinniu.creativeireland.gov.ie/events/location/laois