Over 1,000 events across Ireland for Cruinniú na nÓg
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Over 1,000 free creative events for children and young people are taking place across Ireland for Cruinniú na nÓg.
- The event, unique to Ireland, aims to encourage youth participation in creative activities.
- Highlights include circus workshops, mural art projects, and youth theatre collaborations.
Ireland is celebrating its young people's creativity with Cruinniú na nÓg, an event featuring over 1,000 free activities nationwide. This unique national day encourages children and young people to engage in creative pursuits in their local areas.
Launched in 2018, Cruinniú na nÓg is the only initiative of its kind globally, dedicated to fostering creativity among youth. Minister for Culture Patrick O'Donovan described the 2026 program as "ambitious, inclusive and inspiring," emphasizing the importance of investing in young people's ideas and potential.
This year's program boasts more than 1,300 free events across the island. A key feature is the return of Cruinniú Late, offering dedicated youth-led spaces where teenagers can gather, create, and express themselves in safe, peer-designed environments.
This year’s programme includes over 1,300 free events all over the island of Ireland, alongside the return of Cruinniú Late, which offers dedicated youth-led spaces for teenagers to gather, create and express themselves in a safe environment created by and for young people.
Several major projects are part of the celebration. Circus Céilí will unite young people to explore circus arts through workshops and performances. The Walls Project will engage youth in 13 locations, collaborating with professional mural artists to create large-scale public artworks. Additionally, over 20 youth theatre groups will converge in five regional hubs for the Youth Theatre Ireland project, focusing on collaboration and performance.
Cruinniú na nÓg aims to provide accessible opportunities for young people to explore various art forms, from circus and visual arts to theatre, fostering a vibrant creative landscape for the next generation.
inclusive and inspiring
Originally published by RTÉ News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.