On Easter Monday this year, a series of cultural events will take place across the country as part of a new national day of culture and creativity.
Cruinniú na Cásca – which directly translates as “A meeting at Easter” – will celebrate contemporary Ireland through a range of cultural and artistic events, focused on activities for families and children.
The celebration will include a large-scale free public festival across four zones in Dublin city centre – St Stephen’s Green, Dublin Castle, Smithfield Square and Custom House Quay – with local events to be held in all 31 local authorities around the country.
Cruinniú na Cásca is one of many initiatives of Creative Ireland which was established as a legacy programme following the hugely successful 1916 Rising centenary commemorations.
Last year’s Reflecting the Rising was one of the biggest gatherings ever in Dublin with hundreds of thousands of people attending a plethora of outdoor and indoor events.
Launching Cruinniú na Cásca, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that to describe Reflecting the Rising as a “huge success would be an understatement” and he similarly praised the Easter Rising commemorations.
“Last year we found ways to talk about our identity, the meaning of citizenship, the importance of community. It was a year of debate without division and argument without rancour. We all walked a little taller as a consequence.We belonged and we were proud to belong.”
The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphries said the Government had learned about the importance of creativity from last year’s commemorations.
“Creative Ireland is all about putting culture and creativity at the heart of communities nationwide and Cruinniú na Cásca will do just that this Easter Monday. There will be a wide series of family friendly events right across Dublin city centre, curated by RTÉ, with events of a large and small scale also happening in every county nationwide.”
“We want to encourage people to become involved in the cultural life of their own county through a national day of creativity. We have set ourselves some ambitious targets for year one of Creative Ireland, with Cruinniú na Cásca top of the list.”
“I am delighted that people nationwide will have the opportunity to come together and participate in cultural and creative activity on Easter Monday, driving our collective wellbeing and our sense of community.”
Some of the highlights already announced include:
- Live performances from Crash Ensemble, the Academic, Booka Brass, Slow Moving Clouds and Landless in Dublin City Centre
- Workshops on DJing, illustration, film, TV and radio production in Smithfield Square
- A Céilí Mór and an international Dance Zone at the Custom House
- Siamsa Tire will take over the town park in Tralee, where visitors will be able to enjoy Beautiful
- Beasts, an exhibition of sculpture for children, presented by The Ark.
- Athenry has a full programme of creative fun, with archery, juggling, drums and sambas, traditional crafts as well as Irish music, song and dance at multiple locations in the town.
- In Abbeyshrule, Co. Longford, a Cruinniú na Cásca event will take place at dusk at the 12th century Cistercian Abbey, and will include an evocative programme of performances by local artists.
Falling on April 17th this year, the festival provides the perfect opportunity to get together for a new way to celebrate Easter Monday.
