Fantastic line–up of Events & Activities for Kids and Teens at the Cloughjordan Festival.
The Cloughjordan Festival takes place from Wednesday 27June – Sunday 1 July, with wide range of fun activities and quality entertainment for all the family to look forward to. This year we have a fantastic line-up of workshops and events for kids and teens:
Sports
The festival kicks off on Wednesday 27 with a Hurling and Camogie skills camp from 11.00am-1.00pm followed by a Soccer Skills Camp from 2.00pm–4.00pm at the GAA Complex. Both camps which run until Friday, are free, and are for ages 7-13 years. No registration required, just turn up on the day.
Get a taste for kick-boxing and kung fu with Chinese Kick Boxing Champion, Patrick O’Connor. Patrick will run an Introduction to Martial Arts workshop in the Parochial Hall on Wednesday 27 June from 3.30pm – 4.30pm for ages 13 – 17 years. Cost is €5. To book a place, ring 086 1675034.
Music
Local musician Shay Hannon, who has been teaching tin whistle to children and adults for a number of years, is running an Introduction to Tin Whistle workshop where participants will learn the basics of tin whistle and how to play a simple tune. The workshop takes place Wednesday and Thursday, 2pm–3pm for kids aged 6-10 years and is free. Registration is at 2pm each day.
Drumming for Young Kids & Parents takes place Friday 29 June, 11am – 12pm and Saturday 30 June 12pm -1pm, The Meadow, Cloughjordan. Cost is €3 per child and parents are free. This is an exciting opportunity for young kids aged 4–7 years to learn about rhythm using djembe drums, bells, shakers and other percussion in musical games. Drumming for Kids 8-12 years takes place on Saturday 30 June, 1.15pm–2.15pm, The Meadow, Cloughjordan. Cost is €3. Kids will learn about bass, tone and slap sound of djembe drum, body percussion, and rhythm and polyrhythms for groups. Both workshops are thought by professional music teachers Paddy O’Meara, Emma Smith and Michelle Richardson-Hennessy who between them have years of experience teaching music to children. No registration is required for either workshop, just turn up on the day.
Arts & Crafts
Glass Fusing for Children with Mollie Barrow takes place on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 June at 2pm for ages 8-12 years. Children will learn the basics of fusing glass in a kiln and safely working with glass and will complete several small projects. Cost for one session is €30 and €50 for both sessions. Children who book both sessions may complete slightly more advanced projects in the second class. To book a place ring 086 1537390
Pottery Workshop with Thomas Wollen will run on Thursday 28 June and Friday 29 Jun 1.30pm-4pm, The Black Studio, Cloughjordan, ages 8-13 years. Thomas has been making pottery and running classes for adults and children since 1998. He produces both functional earthenware and decorative raku pieces that are exhibited and sold from his studio and in selected galleries around Ireland. In the class, children will learn one or two simple pottery hand building techniques and produce a piece such as a jug, jar or vase that will be finished by colouring, glazing and firing in the kiln. To book a place, ring 086 3104372 and cost for each workshop is €13.
Making Silver Jewellery with Fergus Grant-Stevenson takes place Friday 29 June from 1.30pm-3.30pm and Sat 30 Jun 10.00am-12.00pm in The Black Studio, Cloughjordan. Fergus has been producing a unique range of silver jewellery for over 10 years that includes replicas of some of Ireland’s most beautiful artefacts and practical, modern jewellery inspired by these artefacts. The workshop will include demonstrations of traditional silversmithing techniques followed by the children making simple pieces of jewellery. Cost is €15 per workshop. To book a place, ring 086 3104372.
Children’s Art Exhibition: Design a Hat will be launched on Wednesday 27 in the Methodist Hall, and will be on display there for the duration of the festival. The local school children have been given the task of designing a hat, so come along and see some fantastic creations!
Family Creativity Tent is on Saturday 30 June 11am-5pm in The Meadow, and is for all ages. Try your hand at mask-making, flag-painting, paper flower making, felt brooch making and a variety of paper and wool crafts. Participants will have one or more pieces of craftwork to take away with them and will be invited to display the craft work they have made in an exhibition area on the Meadow for the day. Children under 8 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Cost is €2 per child per activity.
Storytime and Activities for Young Children is a free event for children under 7 on Thursday 28 June, from 11.00am-1.00pm, in Sheelagh na Gig bookshop. Stories, colouring, and simple crafts for very young children and their parents to enjoy!
Film
Cloughjordan Cine Club: Shorts for Wee Ones is programme of international short animated films suitable for 3+ years taking place on Wednesday 27 Jun in the Paraochial Hall from 12.00pm–1.00pm. Cost is €2 per child. Adults are free.
Cookery
For all budding young chefs out there, we have just the thing for you! Junior Chef Cookery Classes: Dinner for the family takes place Thursday 28 June in Cloughjordan House Cookery School from 2.00pm-4.00pm, ages 10 – 14 years.
Learn the skills and gain the confidence to cook dinner for the whole family. Using wholesome ingredients and fresh, seasonal produce, this class helps you practice your kitchen skills while developing your confidence and creativity. Kids in the Kitchen Cookery Classes: Bread and buns takes place Friday 29 June, 2.00pm-4.00pm in Cloughjordan House Cookery School, ages 6-9 years. Learn how to make simple bread and buns to delight your friends and family. To book a place for either workshop, ring 087 2515694. Cost for each workshop is €20.
For further details on all activities and events taking place over the duration of the festival, log on to http://www.cloughjordanfestival.org/ or check out the Cloughjordan Festival page on Facebook.
