Cruinniú na nÓg NOW LIVE ON https://bit.ly/3cs2VeR | Today is Ireland’s National Day of Youthful Creativity

“Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age and dreams are forever”

Walt Disney

A showcase of youthful creativity, talent and excellence for Wicklow’s VIRTUAL Cruinniú na nÓg

Celebrating Youthful Creativity by creating together but staying apart.

June 13^th | https://bit.ly/3cs2VeR

#mycruinniu #inthistogether

Over the last six weeks, thousands of young people have been creating wonderfully imaginative stories, artworks, installations, Lego, cooking, upcycling, heritage, film making and song writing at home for Cruinniú na nÓg as part of the Creative Ireland Programme, supported by RTÉ.  Wicklow County Council is immensely proud to present a showcase of youthful creativity on June 13th announcing the winners of each competition and a whole range of incredible photos, stories, videos, films, songs, dream catchers, creative baking, crafting and a kaleidoscope of colour, imagination and excitement.

TV Celebrity Chef Catherine Fulvio led and judged the creative bake-off and was astounded with the high standards of entries.  The winners in the baking category are Cormac O’hAnnaigh from Bray aged 6 with his ‘Sugarloaf Chocolate Pisachio Cake’ in the 5-8 age category; Eimear Mc Teague from Letterkenny in Donegal aged 12 with her stunning round tower cake “My First Wicklow Experience” in the 9-12 age category and Jessica Byrne from Rathdrum aged 14 with her “Powerscourt Waterfall” in the 13+ age category. 

Best-Selling Children’s Author Sarah Webb was also captivated with the entries for this year’s writing competition.  The overall winner is Nicola McFadden from Naas Co Kildare with “The Hidden Howl” – a poignant story of the Wicklow wolf.  Close runners up are Saoirse- Marie Crean Nic Oireachtaigh from Greystones with her story ‘Go Wild’ in second place and  Sarah Fitzgerald from Kinsale Co Cork age 16 with her story The Fierce Fox in third place.

Cathal Ryder from Avoca Co Wicklow aged 10 scoops first prize for his Wicklow Head Lighthouse in the Heritage Upcycling Competition. Nick Kane from Wicklow Town age 14 wins first prize in the ‘One Minute. One Take.’ Film Competition and James Fennell, Greystones, Co. Wicklow age 14 is the overall winner in the Singer Songwriter Competition.

All of these and more are being showcased on https://bit.ly/3cs2VeR and there is a full day of songs, games, ‘Nature on your Door Step’ images submitted to the Heritage Office as part of National Biodiversity Week as well as Library Stories and Brick Flicks.  Sharon and Katherine from Mouthful host interactive music and movement including Animal Party Time for under 7s with costumes and toy animals, Exploring Outer Space for ages 7-11 and Hopes and Dreams singing and song writing for ages 11-14s.  Artist David Beattie has Create Sound Experiments with Dancing Monsters and Listening Funnels and Art Educator Anne Bradley has Slow Play sensory activities.

Wicklow Arts Office were also proud to collaborate with Bray Women’s Refuge to create Dream Catchers with artist Michelle Hall and offer individual Cruinniú na nÓg creativity packs for every child at the refuge to ensure that everyone has a chance to participate and be showcased as part of the virtual event. Wicklow County Council has also worked with Barnardos sending over 50 creativity and reading packs to vulnerable Wicklow families at this time and has provided additional craft resources and reading material for another 50 children and young people as part of the programmes.

Cruinniú na nÓg in Wicklow is an initiative of Arts, Heritage and Library Services of Wicklow County Council supported by Music Generation Wicklow.

ENDS

Media Contact: Helen O Dwyer | Diffusion Events | helen@diffusionevents.com | 086 2332725