County Longford’s debut Circus Camp launches for children and teenagers
Longford Arts Office and Longford School Completion Programme join forces to bring world-class circus arts to young people across the county
Press Release: Tuesday, 12 May 2026
Longford County Council’s Arts Office and the Longford School Completion Programme (LSCP) are proud to jointly announce the launch of Longford Circus Camp — a landmark first for County Longford and a transformative new opportunity for the county’s young people. Taking place this summer at the Temperance Hall, Longford Town, the camp will introduce children and teenagers to the captivating world of circus arts for the very first time in Longford’s history.
Running across two dedicated age-group sessions from Monday, 29 June to Friday, 10 July 2026, the half-day camps will immerse participants in the disciplines of aerial performance, balance, object manipulation, juggling, acrobatics, and clowning. Places are now open for booking, with Junior Circus sessions (ages 8–12) running from 10am to 1pm and Senior Circus sessions (ages 13–14) from 2pm to 4.30pm.
The Longford Circus Camp is a centrepiece of the Making Moving Art programme, delivered by Longford School Completion Programme and funded by County Longford Arts Service and the Arts Council of Ireland. The camps are led by acclaimed circus educator Isab Ela, formerly of Galway Circus School, and supported by facilitators Gavin Smith and Niamh Dennehy.
Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh said, “This is a really unique opportunity for young people in County Longford. I want to congratulate the Longford Arts Office, the School Completion Programme, and everyone behind the Making Moving Art initiative for making this vision a reality. I encourage every family in the county to get their children signed up — this is going to be something very special.”
Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon said, “This camp is about giving young people real access to the arts, right here in Longford. It opens doors to creativity, confidence and new skills, and it shows what can happen when education and arts services work together for children and families.”
Isab Ela, Circus Educator said, “Circus is one of the most joyful, inclusive, and genuinely transformative art forms young people can experience. When a child learns to balance or juggle for the first time, something lights up in them — a confidence, a focus, a delight in their own body and imagination that stays with them long after the camp ends. We have worked with young people across Ireland, and I know just how special this experience will be for Longford.”
Frances Sweeney, Coordinator of LSCP said, “Summer can be a challenging time for many young people — the structure of the school year disappears and, for some, so does the sense of connection and purpose that comes with it. Longford Circus Camp offers something genuinely exciting: a reason to show up, to stretch yourself, and to belong to something bigger than yourself. We are enormously proud to be part of this programme and to offer an experience that supports young people’s wellbeing, builds social bonds, and makes the summer something to look forward to. Every child in Longford deserves access to opportunities like this.”
No prior circus experience is required — the camps are designed to welcome complete beginners and experienced performers alike. For booking information see https://longfordlibrary.ie/arts/youth
