Summer is in the air, packed with a diverse array of festivals, summer schools, concerts and outdoor events for all ages. Rosita Boland, Sylvia Thompson, Brian Boyd and Michael Dervan pick out their highlights. All you have to do is book and enjoy.
FESTIVALS
Belfast Children's Festival
May 26-June 3
Belfast city, 048-90312264
www.belfastchildrensfestival.com
A feast of puppetry, theatre, music, literature and visual arts for children of all ages. Highlights include the Amozozo Luminarium in Custom House Square, performances from Graffiti Classics and a day-long festival of workshops and performances in the Waterfront Hall on Sunday, May 28th.
Spréacha Arts Festival for Children
June 12-17
Draíocht Arts Centre, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, 01-8852610
www.draiocht.ie
Now in its third year, this festival has an exciting selection of theatre shows from France, Belgium, Italy, Spain and the United States, an art exhibition that recalls the visual world of children's play, and readings by children's authors in local libraries.
Éigse Carlow Arts Festival
June 10-18
Carlow town, 059-9140491
Eigsecarlow@eircom.net
The children's programme includes a series of literature and illustration workshops in partnership with the Ark; hip-hop dance workshops with Dance Theatre Ireland, folk theatre from the Armagh Rhymers and a children's art competition.
Cork Midsummer Festival
June 20-July 1
Cork city, 1890-200555
www.corkfestival.com
The new extended children's programme includes performances of Treasure Island from Wee Stories, Scotland's premier theatre company, and Watch the Birdy from the Anglo-Italian Lyngo Theatre Company. The Lord Mayor's Picnic in Fitzgerald Park on June 25th, is a high point, with entertainment and workshops for all ages. Also new this year in collaboration with the Ark, pre-school children can work with artists to create a bouncy sculpture.
Earagail Arts Festival
July 10-23
Co Donegal, 074-9120777
www.eaf.ie
International shows remain unconfirmed as yet but one highlight this year is sure to be Coraline, a new show for children aged 10 and over by Púca Puppets, and their interactive storytelling show, Storybear, for seven- to nine-year-olds.
Spróg Children's Festival
July 31-Aug 4
Garter Lane Theatre, Waterford city, 051-855038
www.spraoi.com
The annual pre-Spraoi festival for children promises some great theatre and puppet shows including Moving House from Spring Onion Puppet Theatre, storytelling sessions from South Asia and a week of dance workshops for five- to eight-year-olds.
Kilkenny Arts Festival
Aug 11-20
Kilkenny city, 056-7763663
www.kilkennyarts.ie
Performance poetry from US-based Mayhem Poets and a flamenco concert from Vienta Y Fuego are exciting events on this year's extensive children's programme. Also worth checking out are theatre troupes from England and readings from authors Deirdre Madden, Darren Shan and Eoin McNamee.
Dún Laoghaire Festival of World Cultures
Aug 25-27
Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, 01-2047271
www.festivalofworldcultures.com
The children's programme centres around People's Park, where performances, workshops, circus acts and storytelling are aimed at young audiences.
Diversions
July/Aug
Temple Bar, Dublin 2, 01-6772255
www.temple-bar.ie
This free season of city-centre entertainment includes seven days of spectacular outdoor circus acts from July 17th to 23rd and Sunday shows at 2pm in Meeting House Square from July 8th to August 27th. A fantastic cultural experience for locals and visitors alike.
Farmleigh Summer Programme
July/Aug
Farmleigh, Phoenix Park, Dublin, 01-8155900
www.farmleigh.ie
Details of the summer cultural programme are not yet available, however the magnificent house and gardens provide a welcome retreat from urban living for families during the summer months.
WORKSHOPS
National Gallery Children's Workshops
June/July
National Gallery, Merrion Street, Dublin 2, 01-6633518
www.nationalgallery.ie
The Children's Summer Art Club includes the Little Masters workshops for three to six year olds (15 per week, Tues-Thurs, 10.45am-noon in July) and the Children's Art Club for seven- to 12-year-olds (24 per week, Tues-Thurs, 2.15pm-3.30pm in July). Numbers limited to 25 per group. Also, at the Sunday Talks, children will be introduced to different paintings in the gallery at 3.30pm each Sunday in June. Admission free.
The Ark Children's Workshops
June/July
The Ark, Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, 01-6707788
www.ark.ie
The summer programme includes workshops on composing music and making musical instruments. Also in collaboration with the Dublin Docklands Maritime Festival, children are taken on a maritime adventure from June 2nd to 4th.
Dublin City Gallery Workshops
July/Aug
Dublin City Gallery, Parnell Square North, Dublin 1, 01-8741903
www.hughlane.ie
Week-long art camps for seven- 10-year-olds (July 11th-14th, 10.30am-noon, 45) and a two-week drawing and mixed media course for 13- to 17-year-olds (July 11-21, 2.30pm-4pm, 60) in July are followed by once-off Thursday morning (11am-noon) artist-led workshops for various age groups in August (€5 per workshop ). Meanwhile, free sketching workshops (for children aged seven and over) take place on Sundays at 3pm in May and June.
Music Workshops
June-Aug
National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 01-4170000
www.nch.ie
As part of the National Concert Hall open day, on July 22nd, Irish music and dance workshops will be held in the Iveagh Gardens. The annual summer season includes music-making for families on June 17th (sold out), July 8th, August 5th and 26th and parent and toddler workshops on June 10th (sold out), July 1st, August 6th and 27th. On August 12th, 13th, 19th and 20th, there is an eclectic mix of sean-nós singing and dancing and Irish music workshops for all ages and African drum and Capoeira-Brazilian music and dance workshops for nine- to 12-year-olds. €10 per workshops.
National Museum Summer Workshops
July/Aug
www.museum.ie
Highlights include two week-long summer schools for seven- to 12-year-olds in early August at the National Museum, Kildare Street, Dublin. Also, weekly family tours at 2.30pm on Wednesdays at the National Museum and at 11.30am on Thursdays at the Natural History Museum, Merrion Street, Dublin. For full programme details and events at Collins Barracks and Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo, check website.
Paper-Making and Printing Camps
July/Aug
National Print Museum, Beggars Bush, Haddington Road, Dublin, 01-6603770
www.iol.ie/~npmuseum
New this year, these camps for older children (eight- to 12- and 12- to 15-year-olds) offer opportunities to make paper, learn the first principles of book binding and calligraphy. Three hour-long morning and afternoon camps on various weeks from July 3rd to August 25th. €90 per camp.
Chester Beatty Summer Club
July 3-7
Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle, 01-4070750
www.cbl.ie
Workshops explore the museum's collections of books and manuscripts through art, design and printmaking (for six- to 11-year-olds) Booking opens June 26. Admission free.
Ballet Ireland Summer Workshops July/Aug
Various venues
These week-long workshops offer children the chance to be involved in putting together a full-length ballet. This year's venues are the Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co Wicklow (July 3-7 01-2724030), Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise, Co Laois (July 10-14, 0502-63355), Glór Irish Music Centre, Ennis, Co Clare (July 17-21, 065-6843103), the Civic Theatre, Tallaght, Dublin (July 24-28, 01-4627477), An Grianán, Letterkenny, Co Donegal (July 31- Aug 4, 074-9120777), Burnavon Arts Centre, Cookstown, Co Tyrone (Aug 7-11, 048-86769949), Moat Theatre, Naas, Co Kildare (August 14-18, 045-883030), Meath Arts Centre, Navan, Co Meath (Aug 15-19, 046-9093195) and the Simon Ryan Theatre, Tipperary town (Aug 21-25, 062-80520).
Drama and Movie-Making Workshops
July/Aug
Gaiety School of Acting, Sycamore Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, 01-6799277
www.gaietyschool.com
The extensive programme includes drama, acting, movie-making courses in Dublin and Cork for eight- to 19-year-olds.
CentreStage Summer School
June/July
University Concert Hall, University Limerick And LIT Millennium Theatre, Limerick city, 061-302220
www.centrestageireland.com
Musical theatre summer camps, youth singing masterclasses and youth theatre camps for those aged six to 20.
INTERNATIONAL ACTS ON TOUR
Fimbles Live
June
www.fimbleslive.co.uk
Pre-school children will be familiar with these cuddly colourful TV characters. On tour for the first time, they will be joined on stage by BBC presenter, Sarah-Jane Honeywell. Helix, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, June 2nd-4th various times €24 (01-7007000); Millennium Forum, Derry, June 7th and 8th £5-£9.50 (048-71264455) and Waterfront Hall, Belfast, June 9th-11th £13.50/£9.50 (048-90334455).
The Wiggles
June/July
www.thewiggles.com.au
One of Australia's biggest commercial successes for young children, these all-dancing, all-singing, fun-lovin' guys are on tour again. Waterfront Hall, Belfast June 30th, £13 (048-90334455) and the Helix, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin on July 4th, 11am & 2pm, €20 (01-7007000).
