'From Garden to Runway' - free fashion show event
Athlone Castle hosted “From Garden to Runway”, a free fashion show event for children in celebration of Cruinniú na nÓg, on Saturday, June 7.
This special event was part of the national Cruinniú na nÓg programme of activities.
This annual event is a day dedicated to enabling children's and young people's creative potential.
The fashion show was a collaboration between Athlone Castle and Luan Gallery and is presented with support from Creative Ireland and Westmeath County Council.
In recent weeks, Athlone Castle and Luan Gallery hosted costume-making workshops for local children focused on sustainability.
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Ciara O’Neill, Eleanor Cunningham, Mollie Byrne, Aoibhinn Nugent, Ella O’Connor, Kate Naughton, Caela Foy Joyce, Freya O’Connor, Ailish McCormack, Nora Mannion, Eva Harney, Mabel Harney, during the Garden to Runway Fashion Show at Athlone Castle 2025Image 2 of 4
Jessica Bojarska at Garden to Runway Fashions at Athlone Castle 2025Image 3 of 4
Members of Comhaltas Ath Luain at the event.Image 4 of 4
MC John McGlynn and participant Oliva.The costumes were inspired by wildflowers, native plants, and herbs found in the Historical Garden in the upper battlements of Athlone Castle.
Abbey Road Resident artists Niamh Butler and Aoife Doolan facilitated these workshops, with assistance from Transition Year students from Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone, who were involved in Junk Kouture.
The children who participated in the workshops showcased their designs at a fashion show titled on Saturday last, in the Athlone Castle Courtyard.
The event also featured live performances by talented local youth musicians from Comhaltas Áth Luain and Féile na Sionainne, and was hosted by special guest John McGlynn, Manager of The Deane Crowe Theatre, who served as Compere and Master of Ceremonies for the afternoon’s festivities.
To conclude this creative journey, photos captured by photographer Chris Burke during the workshops and fashion show will be exhibited in the Garden to Gallery Exhibition at Luan Gallery starting Saturday, August 2.