Make and Play at Blackrock park family day, 11.00am – 3.00pm

We invite you to celebrate with us the history and biodiversity of Blackrock park through making, exploring and playing.

Making and Exploring:

Join Mika Moret and artists from White Doodle Art for a series of drop in workshops that explore land, sea and sky. We will create our very own flock of brent geese, connect with the sea by making paper boats, and explore the land through clay making. We will connect with the history of Blackrock park and step back into Victorian times by creating your very own bonnets and hats.

Consider what lies beneath us through geology activities with geoarchaeologist Dr Stephen Mandal of Dig it Kids, bring your own rocks to see if you can identify them and learn about how they were formed and see where they fit into the timeline of Irish and world geology. 

Playing and Exploring:

For those wanting to test their skills and try out new games, we will have Street Theatre Ireland on hand inviting you to try your hand at juggling, balancing and spinning in the Circus Skills area. You can have a go at Victorian games, such as croquet, hoop and stick, ring toss and lots more in our lawn games area.

Come to the Dublin Bay UNESCO Biosphere tent to find out more about the nature all around us in Dublin Bay - on land, in the air and in the sea!

Join Samuel Arnold Keane at the designated meeting point for an exploration of seaweed and sea plants and to learn more about Dún Laoghaire's coastline. These 45 minute walks will include foraging and making an artistic record of the coastal plants along the trail, and will introduce the names of plants as gaeilge. Taking place from 11.30am – 12.15pm, 12.30pm – 1.15pm and 2.00pm – 2.45pm places are filled on a first come first serve basis. When the tide allows these walks will include steps and a visit to the beach.

Performances: 

Bring a picnic blanket and sit back to listen to some local musical talent performing on the bandstand on the hour from 11.00am - 3.00pm, including:

• 11.00am: Ukulele Tuesday
• 12.00pm: Ukulele Tuesday
• 1.00pm: Gateway to Music Junior Choir
• 2.00pm: Supertones choir
• 3.00pm: Southside Traveller Action Group’s youth group's young rappers .

Make sure to catch Johnny the Juggler wandering around the park with his mesmerising juggling skills and say Hello to the Stilt Walker. Why not give her a very high five!

All activities are drop in and no booking is required, so please come along, bring some friends, and have fun!

We will have a quiet area available on the day for those with sensory needs, families can borrow noise cancelling headphones from here as required, and can use the space for time out to self-regulate during the day.

Location: Blackrock park is located right beside Blackrock Dart station and Blackrock village. You can access the park from beside the dart station, opposite Blackrock Shopping Centre or from the main Rock Road. There is no parking at Blackrock Park, so we recommend families come by public transport, walk or cycle.

Public Transport: Blackrock dart station, buses 4, 7, 17, 46E, 84, 114, S6

This event is part of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council's Creative Ireland Cruinniú na nÓg programme 2024. For further detail on Cruinniú na nÓg and to find out more about what’s happening in your area please go to https://cruinniu.creativeireland.gov.ie/.