Childhood Services Week (11–15 May 2026) is a celebration of the vital work of the childhood services sector across the island of Ireland. This year’s theme, “Sustain the Spark,” highlights the importance of nurturing children’s creativity, curiosity, and love of learning through meaningful early experiences.
Throughout the week, services are encouraged to host their own Festival of the Arts, creating rich opportunities for children to engage in music, dance, visual arts, storytelling, and imaginative play. A series of free live workshops led by experienced facilitators will also take place, offering inspiring and accessible activities that support children’s holistic development.
📅 What’s on:
🎤 Music Monday – Sing, dance, and explore with Sinéad Connolly (Music Generation Cavan/Monaghan)
💃 Toe Tapping Tuesday – Get moving with Oran Leong, dancer extraordinaire (Ceol Connected)
🖼️ Wondrous Wednesday – Creative art workshops for preschool and school-aged children, led by artist Mags Harnett (National Gallery of Ireland)
📚 Tales on Thursday – Join Patricia Forde, Laureate na nÓg, for a live read-along (Children’s Books Ireland)
🎭 Fantasy Friday – A day of storytelling, dress-up, drama, and puppetry
🕚 Free live workshops run Monday to Thursday at 11am