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.

RTÉ and Creative Ireland will spearhead the events in Dublin for Cruinniú na Cásca, a large-scale free public festival across four zones in the city centre, as well as elsewhere around the country.

The festival aims to “celebrate culture and creativity in contemporary Irish society” through live music and dance, coding, theatre, art and music workshops, talks and tastings, readings and screenings and more.

It is intended to make Cruinniú na Cásca an annual free festival that celebrates culture and creativity, with a special focus for families and children.

A statement from the Department of Arts said that this festival would build on RTÉ’s Reflecting the Rising that was held in Dublin last year to celebrate the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising.

Events will include:

A céilí mór and an international dance zone at the Custom House.

Live music at Dublin Castle, Stephen’s Green and Smithfield Square.

Robot workshops in Smithfield, an interactive playground at Stephen’s Green and a food village at the Custom House.

A full programme of archery, juggling, drums, sambas, as well as Irish music, song and dance in Athenry.

Local artists will take over at dusk at the 12th century Cistercian Abbey in Abbeyshrule, Co Longford.

Siamsa Tire will take over Tralee town park, with visitors able to enjoy Beautiful Beasts, an exhibition of sculpture for children.

Speaking at the launch of the festival, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the initiative is something that is close to his heart.

He said: “The theme for Cruinniú na Cásca 2017 is diversity and inclusion.

As people, as communities, we can only benefit from taking a day every year to think seriously about ourselves, to have important conversations – but also to share our experiences and to come together to enjoy our cultural heritage and the work of our artists and performers.

Arts Minister Heather Humphreys said that Cruinniú na Cásca – which means “a meeting at Easter” – was top of an ambitious list of projects planned by Creative Ireland, a government initiative in its first year.

Events will take place in each of the 31 local authorities nationwide this Easter Monday, 17 April.