RTÉ's This is Art! goes live for Cruinniú na nÓg 2026, and we called on a legend to make the first brush stroke this Saturday, 6 June - the one and only Don Conroy!
He will lead a special art class in Dublin with more taking place on the same day in Antrim, Cork and Galway. This is Art! is Ireland's largest all island art competition, open to young people 0-18yrs supported by Creative Ireland and the Shared Island Initiative.
Each class will take a unique approach to creativity from mixed media to drawing to painting, taking place amidst an exhibition of RTÉ This is Art! entries from the locality.
Eight amazing artists are lined up to lead the sessions – a mix of established, well-known artists alongside some of Ireland’s most exciting emerging young artists from RTÉ This is Art!
Dublin: RTÉ This is Art! LIVE with Don Conroy
The beloved Irish artist, environmentalist, television personality, and children’s author Don will host a free Wildlife Drawing class, Draw for fun with Don Conroy – a perfect fit with RTÉ This Is Art!’s most recent theme, nature.
Don will be assisted by RTÉ This is Art! First place winner in the 16-18yrs category, Evan Shanahan from Dublin.
Location: The class will take place at the Lexicon, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin at 12pm - reserve your tickets here
Galway: RTÉ This is Art! LIVE with Emer MacDermott
Emer is an expert portrait artist and dedicated art educator who specialises in high-energy children’s art camps. She will host a Wildlife Watercolour & Printing class combining print tracing and painting.
Location: The class will take place in Club Áras na nGael, Galway City at 2.30pm - Free tickets here.
Cork: RTÉ This is Art! LIVE with Maeve O’Keeffe
Maeve is a dynamic cartoonist known for bringing stories and characters to life through engaging visual storytelling. She will host a Comic Book Workshop centering around a family’s adventure in space!
Location: The class will take place in the MTU Crawford College of Art and Design at 2.30pm - Register here!
Antrim: RTÉ This is Art! LIVE with Anushiya Sundaralingam
Anushiya is a multimedia artist whose practice spans printmaking, painting, sculpture, textiles, and installation, using layered materials. She will host a Mixed Media Decoupage & Collage class. Anushiya will be assisted by RTÉ This is Art! Second place winner Judith Sherry from Antrim.
Location: The class will take place in the Ulster Museum at 12pm. Places are free but tickets are limited -reserve yours now here.
The art classes add to the already exciting line up of more than 1300 events taking place on Cruinniú na nÓg, the world's only national day of free creativity for children and young people, a standout moment for creativity in the Irish calendar.
Cruinniú na nÓg is an initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme, in partnership with 31 local authorities and RTÉ.
