As part of Cruinniú na nÓg 2025 next month, Cork County Council’s Library and Arts Service will grant creative wishes to young people in the county helping them to become songwriters, artists, poets and performers. The National Day of Creativity for young people takes place on Saturday, 7th June with over 30 events in County Cork libraries and schools.
This year’s programme has been curated by the children of Cork through the My Creative Wish initiative. More than 1,000 submissions were received from children and young people voicing their artistic dreams and ambitions – from these, over 30 wishes have been granted.
Showcase events will feature the works, stories and performances of the young people who have been working with professional artists in recent weeks. There will also be a range of workshops open to the public in libraries on comic and zine making, as well as architecture and fashion design. One such event is the Comic Book Making at Mallow Library – a free art workshop for children aged 9 to 12 years (3-4.30pm).
“The young people in our county have demonstrated an immense wealth of creativity,” Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll said. “Through My Creative Wish we have seen the ambition of our youth to become actors, writers, dancers, designers, and so much more. We are delighted to have an opportunity to help them realise their ambitions and to make their wishes come true. We truly believe that every person in Cork should have the opportunity to realise their full creative potential and Cruinniú na nÓg supports this ambition.”
SET TO DJ IN MALLOW
Some other events include a student in Whitegate National School whose wish is to become an artist – their class took part in workshops led by an artist and will mount their artworks in an exhibition. While in Burnfort National School, one young person expressed a wish to become a songwriter, so the class have been working on their original tunes that they will perform.
The runners-up received workshops in their local library branches that are open to the public to attend. In Mallow, there will be an architecture workshop led by a local architect, participants will sketch, design, and construct imaginative structures using fun, interactive materials.
This year for the first time there will be a late-night event delivered as part of Cruinniú na nÓg in the county. Electronic Music Council will teach young people in Youth Reach Mallow how to DJ and on June 7th they will perform at a disco in Mallow.
Ireland is the first, and only, country in the world to have a national day of free creativity for children and young people under 18.
For further information visit www.cruinniu.gov.ie or pop into your local library branch.
