Cavan Arts Festival
Lifelong Learning Carnival School
Lifelong Learning Carnival School is a new project from Cavan Arts Festival, designed to bring people together through creativity, learning, and celebration.
Inspired by the vibrant traditions of carnival, this inclusive arts-learning programme offers free workshops, skill-sharing sessions, and community performances across Cavan and the border region. Participants will explore music, costume, movement, and design while connecting with others in a fun, supportive, and accessible environment.
Over the next three years, the Carnival School will bring together local and cross-border communities to co-create performances that celebrate culture, identity, and friendship culminating in a large-scale community parade as part of the Cavan Arts Festival.
Through art and collaboration, the project aims to build confidence, nurture new skills, and create shared moments of joy that strengthen community bonds and celebrate diversity.
To get involved please contact us via admin@cavanartsfestival.ie
Cavan Arts Festival Carnival School
Samba Drumming Workshops with Keith Smyth
Join Keith and our new Carnival School Samba band, and be part of CAF’s first community parade this May!
Learn the rhythms and excitement of Brazilian samba in a dynamic and inclusive group setting. Keith will guide you through the fundamentals of samba percussion, helping you develop your rhythm and musicality while enjoying the power of group collaboration. Whether you’ve never played an instrument before or have some experience, this workshop is designed to be fun, accessible, and empowering.
Workshop Dates
Wednesdays: 1st April, 8th April, 15th April, 22nd April, 29th April, 6th May, 13th May.
Festival Parade
Saturday 16th May
Workshop Time
7pm-9pm
Workshop Location
Cavan Scout Centre Railway Rd, Drumavanagh, Cavan, H12 TC93
Age & Capacity
Workshops and parade participation are for adults (15 people).
Cavan Arts Festival Carnival School
Music Workshops with Daire O’Reilly
Join Daire and our new Carnival School Musical band, and be part of CAF’s first community parade this May!
If you play an instrument and have rhythm in your bones, this is your invitation to jump in. Brass, reeds, drums, strings, if you can make it groove, we want you in the parade. Come help us fill Cavan with music, movement, and pure festival joy.
To join this workshop, you must be able to groove, read music is preferable but not necessary and bring your own instrument.
About Daire
Daire O’Reilly is a musician, producer, songwriter, saxophonist, and the driving force behind acts such as the Cavan Big Band and The Dixie King Jazz Band and as always is bringing a burst of magic to this year’s parade. With his trademark blend of swing, soul, and groove, Daire is leading a street ensemble that will turn Cavan into a true groovin’ carnival you will want to be a part of!
Workshop Dates
Wednesdays: 15th April, 22nd April, 29th April, 6th May, 13th May.
Festival Parade
Saturday 16th May
Workshop Time
7pm-9pm
Workshop Location
Cavan Institute Block D, Dublin Rd, Pollamore Far, Cavan, H12 FW53.
Age & Capacity
Workshops and parade participation are for adults (15 people).
Cavan Arts Festival Carnival School
Movement Workshops with Anica Louw
Join Anica and our new Carnival School Dance troupe, and be part of CAF’s first community parade this May!
The movement workshops will be led by professional ballet dancer Anica Louw of Shawbrook Dance. The workshops will combine a broad mix of physical theatre movement that anyone and anybody can do. Absolute beginners welcome.
No experience needed - just a willingness to try new things. The new troupe will feature in the festival parade.
About Anica
For over 45 years Anica and her husband Philip have developed Shawbrook into what it is today - an internationally recognised centre of excellence for dance and performance. Shawbrook programmes a series of annual events including residency programmes, music and dance performances, and intensive professional development courses for dance artists. Shawbrook also delivers local outreach programmes that bring professional dancers and local participants together for spectacle and festival events in Longford.
Workshop Dates
Tuesday’s: 31st March, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th April, 5th May.
Festival Parade
Saturday 16th May
Workshop Time
6:30pm-8pm
Workshop Location
Drumlane Room, Kilmore Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Cullies, Co. Cavan, H12 E5C7.
Age & Capacity
Workshops and parade participation are for adults (15 people).
Cavan Arts Festival Carnival School
Circus Workshops with Maria Corcoran
Join Maria and our new Carnival School Circus troupe, and be part of CAF’s first community parade this May!
These beginner-friendly circus performance workshops are all about creative movement and play with professional circus artist Maria, in a relaxed and supportive environment. No experience needed - just a willingness to try new things and have a laugh along the way with even a little bit of circus thrown in.
Learn to hula hoop or juggle , to clown or to maybe even walk on stilts! The new troupe will feature in the festival parade. Absolute beginners welcome
About Maria
Maria is passionate about circus arts and endeavours to spread the joy that it has given her. She works as a performer and facilitator, touring shows around the country as well as facilitating workshops. Her workshops are creative, playful and will inspire you to create your own character for this year's parade.
Workshop Dates
Tuesday’s: 31st March, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th April, 5th, 12th May.
Festival Parade
Saturday 16th May
Workshop Time
7pm-8:30pm
Workshop Location
Finnegan Room, Kilmore Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Cullies, Co. Cavan, H12 E5C7.
Age & Capacity
Workshops and parade participation are for adults (15 people).
Cavan Arts Festival Carnival School
Maker Workshop with Stacey Gardiner
Join Stacey Gardiner and take part in this year’s Maker Workshop, where participants will design and build imaginative cardboard headpieces. Working together, the group will create a vibrant collection of characters that will come to life as part of the festival parade.
About Stacey
Stacey Gardiner has a background in architecture, design, making and teaching, and enjoys bringing people together through creativity and hands-on making. She loves simple materials, textures and form, and the playful experimentation that comes with them. Her work explores how imagination and collaboration can transform everyday materials into something unexpected.
At Cavan Arts Festival, Stacey will lead this year’s Maker Workshop, inviting participants to design and build imaginative cardboard headpieces. Working together, the group will create a vibrant collection of characters that will come to life as part of the festival parade.
Workshop Dates
Tuesday's: 14th, 21st, 28th April (6-9pm)
Saturday: 9th May (10am-2pm)
Workshop Location
A214b (Fashion Room), Cavan Institute, Cathedral Road, Cavan, H12 E426.
Extra Workshop Date
Tuesday 5th May, 6-9pm at Townhall Arts Centre Cavan
Festival Parade
Saturday 16th May
Age & Capacity
Workshops and parade participation are for adults (15 people).
Lifelong Learning Carnival School is supported by Cavan County Council PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
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Official Cavan Arts Festival Programme 2026
A magical four days & nights of art & culture in the heart of Cavan Town