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Louth Youth Ambassador for Cruinniú na nÓg named as details of 2025 events revealed

Louth Youth Ambassador for Cruinniú na nÓg named as details of 2025 events revealed

Grace, who is also a member of member of M.A.D. Youth Theatre, has won a number of awards for her short films, and is an inspiration to other young people as to how they can express themselves through the arts.
There will be no shortage of arts events for young people in Dundalk and surround areas to enjoy Saturday, June 7 as Cruinniú na nÓg 2025, hosted by Louth County Council has an exciting programme of events.
In Dundalk, families can explore an archaeological dig at the County Museum, a buzzing programme at Redeemer FRC with a silent disco, messy play, and Lego fun, plus creative workshops at Bridge Street Studios including pottery, felting and watercolour painting. Creative Spark Downtown Hub will host Doodle Bots, natural pigment-making, and messy art with AAEX Teens.
At Market Square, expect circus performances, mural workshops, spray painting, and much more. M.A.D. Youth Theatre will run workshops with local community groups, and SNAP will host a drama therapy session for their members.
An Táin Arts Centre presents Rhythm is a Dancer, a collaborative live performance of original music and dance by young Louth talent, and a Night Time Economy Event featuring a live art performance of famous artwork recreations by M.A.D. Youth Theatre members.
The centre will also showcase photography from Cruinniú workshops, WOWTH! county-wide art competition winning entries, and art by AAEX Teens and Pebble Lane Art Studio in their BasementGgallery workshop room from June 7 to 14. Don't miss the morning arts and crafts, interactive mural audio tour, and immersive games also offered at the Arts Centre. An exciting Bake Off event will take place at St Vincent's Secondary School for young experienced bakers!
All branches of Louth Library Service will be buzzing with excitement on the day, offering activities like Lego workshops, glass fusing, needle felting, kite-making, and magic shows.
There are also art workshops at Pebble Lane Studio Lordship, a magic show and art session in the Dee Hub, Ardee, and circus performances at Ardee Community Centre.
All events are free but booking is essential visit the official event page to explore the full schedule and secure your spot at cruinniu.creativeireland.gov.ie/events/location/louth/
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Monster Hit: How the creepy-cute Labubu became a billion-dollar business
Monster Hit: How the creepy-cute Labubu became a billion-dollar business

RTÉ News​

timea day ago

  • RTÉ News​

Monster Hit: How the creepy-cute Labubu became a billion-dollar business

Creepy or cute? It depends who you ask. But what's undisputable is how incredibly popular the Labubu has become in recent months. Usually taking the form of a small, plush-like keyring, a Labubu can also take the shape of a larger teddy or figurine. Although they're not actually called Labubu – that's just the name of one of the characters that people can buy. Officially the range of toys is known as 'The Monsters'. And they've been around for a lot longer than you might think. They were created in 2015 by an artist called Kasing Lung, who was born in Hong Kong but raised in the Netherlands, before moving to Belgium. Initially they were little vinyl figurines – and they proved relatively popular within China. But in 2019 Lung struck a partnership with a Chinese toy company called Pop Mart, which is where things began to really take off. Because they were the company that made the plush versions of the monsters, including ones that you could clip onto your bag. These proved much more popular with Chinese consumers, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic. There is a view that they tapped into a desire among consumers for something that wasn't perfect and polished – they wanted to buy toys and teddies that looked a little offbeat like this. Some think it's also an example of the Lipstick Effect – the (contested) economic theory that when people are under financial pressure, they will opt to treat themselves to smaller luxuries rather than big ones. So they buy a nice lipstick rather than a new outfit or, in this case, a €20 to €30 accessory for their handbag, rather than a new handbag. And the result for Labubu was overlap between toys and fashion – because while they look like something for kids, they have become somewhat of a statement piece for adults too. So what's made them so popular in the rest of the world? Pop Mart has targeted growth outside of China – it wants to emulate the success of Lego in becoming a global brand. But what has helped it to achieve that is the fact that a number of big names – like Rihanna and Dua Lipa – were spotted with Labubu keyrings dangling from their bags. Others showed theirs off on social media – like David Beckham, who was given one by his daughter Harper. That exposure helped to catapult them into the consciousness of consumers in American and Europe – and make them something people here wanted too. But a huge part of their success can also be attributed to the business model Pop Mart has perfected around the marketing and sale of Labubu. There are different ranges available - called things like Have A Seat, Big Into Energy and Exciting Macaron – and each has different dolls available. But those ranges tend to be sold in what are called 'blind boxes', where the products come in a sealed box with no indication as to which one is inside They also do limited edition releases – in some ranges one out of every 100 boxes is a so-called 'chaser', which is a hard to get and sought after variety. And they do collaborations with consumer brands like Coca-Cola, and fashion brands like Uniqlo, which are also sold blind and in limited quantities. And all of that has created a virality to the toy. People post unboxing videos online, or show off a rare find on social media. There's also a feeling of collectability to them – people don't just want any doll, they want a specific one, or they want the whole set. But, because of the blind boxes and limited edition releases you need to buy a lot of them in order to complete a set (or get a rarity). And that's massively boosted sales. And it's led to some remarkable scenes… Yes - there have been cases around the world of people queuing up overnight in order to get their hands on the latest 'drop'. There have also been cases of brawls breaking out as people try to get their hands on one – Pop Mart's shops in London have had to suspend sales twice in recent months because of the chaos that was unleased by the demand for the products. And, needless to say, when you have something that's highly sought after but in short supply, it hasn't taken long for a black market to pop up around them. For example counterfeiters have moved to close the gap – which has led to what are known as 'Lafufus'; the knock off Labubus that have flooded the market. Some of them are extremely convincing copies of the original toys – to the extent that Pop Mart has started adding an invisible stamp to its official version, that can only be seen under UV light, as a way of distinguishing one from the other. Other knock-offs aren't quite as well put together – and there have been warnings about the quality and safety of some of the fakes that are being sold, because they probably haven't passed official safety checks and standards before getting to the consumer. As a result there's a risk of small parts breaking off and creating a choking hazard, for example. Another less concerning black market – or more accurately a sub-industry – that's cropped up have been accessory sellers. Platforms like Etsy and Temu are full of mock Prada outfits, face tattoos, necklaces and even Crocs for Labubu dolls, allowing people to further personalise their finds. And there's a massive secondary market too. In some cases Labubus are selling for three times their face value online, which has made them an attractive proposition for scalpers. And even some ultra-rare versions are making big money in official sales – there was a four foot tall version that sold for $150,000 at auction last month. Meanwhile the whole 'blind box' approach has led to some strange behaviour in Pop Mart's shops – with some of the more devoted collectors tending to go around shaking the boxes to try to figure out which variety is inside before they buy it. Avid collectors claim they have perfected their technique and can dramatically improve their odds of finding a rare 'chaser'. Have some taken issue with 'blind boxes'? Yes, even within China there have been questions about how ethical or otherwise blind boxes are. A report questioning their use that broadcast on Chinese state media last month led to Pop Mart's share price falling sharply. Blind boxes aren't something that started with Labubu – if you go into a toyshop you'll see a huge number of different toy lines and brands selling 'surprise' or 'mystery' products where you don't know what's inside until to buy it, take it home and take off the wrapper. That includes LOL Dolls, some of the Funko Pops, Hatchimals – but also big names like Disney, Barbie and Lego have gotten in on the practice with some product lines. And the criticism is that they're made to be addictive – and while some may be popular with adults, they are ultimately targeted at kids. Some see them almost as a form of gambling – because you're paying your money without knowing what you'll get in return – and without necessarily knowing if it's worth the spend or not. You might get something valuable or rare – or the variety that you want – or you might get something that isn't all that desired, or that you already have. And that's not to mention the cost to consumers who want to get a particular one or collect the range – they probably have to spend multiples of the face value in order to do that. And it likely leads to a lot of unwanted products and packaging, too, that may ultimately end up getting dumped. The counter argument to this is that 'blind boxes' are really just a more developed version of the lucky dip bag – which have been around for generations. Many will remember other 'surprise' products from their childhood – like Premier League stickers, Pogs and Match Attax cards. So we've always had this kind of thing. What's different now, though, is that there are so many different 'blind box' type products that consumers are being urged to collect – and they're much more expensive, too. But this has all been very good news for Pop Mart… Yes they've enjoyed incredible growth since being established in 2010 – selling various ranges of collectable dolls and toys, including Labubus. For a long time they were very much focused on the Chinese market – but in recent years have made a real effort to push their products into other markets. They now have 530 stores worldwide, and around 2,470 'robostores' – which are essentially vending machines that sell some of their products. Most of those are in China, but around 130 physical shops and 200 robostores are in other countries, including England and France. Non-China sales now account for around 40% of their revenue – and last year they doubled their total revenues to 13 billion yuan – or around €1.5 billion, their profits tripled to the equivalent of €390m. That's largely driven by Labubu – but sales of some of their other toy lines have been boosted too, which has led to its share price surging. As a result Pop Mart is now technically valued at more than the combined valuations of both Hasbro and Mattel. And of course they're looking to capitalise on the Labubu trend – with a TV show and a film already underway. That may well boost sales of the toys even further in the coming years. How has this success been received in China? There has been some criticism of Labubu in China – not just the use of blind boxes, but also suggestions that the dolls are too scary looking and shouldn't be sold to children. Overall, though, this is being seen as a massive success for China – because it's perhaps the first example of the country having a significant impact on western culture. We're used to Japanese and South Korean influences in Europe and the US – that's been happening for decades, through the likes of Nintendo, or anime and manga, Hello Kitty… all the way to cars and K-Pop. But for a long time Chinese exports to Europe and America were just the products western companies paid them to make. And if you think of the few "Chinese" cultural exports we have had here – like Chinese food, they bear very little resemblance to the actual Chinese equivalent. Most of the other things we think of when we think 'China' - like the music or imagery or typography - is probably based on some fairly iffy stereotypes that were developed by western media. But Labubus and Pop Mart are essentially a home grown Chinese phenomenon that is causing real ripples in Western culture – arguably it's the first such product to do that. And when you combine it with the success of Chinese retailers like Shein and Temu, and the growth of car brands like BYD and Polestar, it's another example of China's growing soft power and influence – and another sign that it's slowly moving away from being the world's factory to becoming a real player in our culture.

A Dundalk woman is heading to the Arctic Circle to retrace the steps of Ireland's forgotten explorer
A Dundalk woman is heading to the Arctic Circle to retrace the steps of Ireland's forgotten explorer

The Journal

timea day ago

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A Dundalk woman is heading to the Arctic Circle to retrace the steps of Ireland's forgotten explorer

A SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR from Co Louth will tomorrow head off on an expedition to the Arctic Circle to retrace the steps of one of Ireland's overlooked explorers. Dr Niamh Shaw plans to retrace the steps of and research Dundalk man Leopold McClintock. McClintock, also known as Ireland's 'Arctic Fox', was born in Dundalk in 1819. He achieved fame as an Arctic explorer who discovered the fate of the failed 1845 expedition to the North American Arctic led by Sir John Franklin. McClintock's expedition discovered the only written record left behind by Franklin's team and was hailed as having solved the mystery of what had become of the veteran explorer. Despite this, he remains relatively unknown in comparison to other Irish explorers, such as Ernest Shackleton. Leopold McClintock, 1819 - 1907 Alamy Alamy Dr Niamh Shaw is to bring his story to life after her retracing of his journey in the Arctic Circle. In partnership with Louth County Council's Environment Office, Shaw will use her research and discoveries while on the expedition to develop an interactive walk in Louth to commemorate McClintock and his explorative achievements. The 16 day expedition kicks off on 7 July. Shaw, who has previously worked as an actor, a writer, an engineer and a performer, told The Journal that she has always had an interest in exploration and explorers. In school, she said, 'the only part of history that I loved was when we did the explorers: Vasco de Game, Pizarro – and the Antarctic was fascinating to me. Ernest Shackleton was kind of a science communicator who made the Antarctic really accessible, and he brought back stories. Advertisement 'I really got into it again around the 2000s and I just picked up loads of books about it. And I found this book about Leopold McClintock, started reading it, and realised he was from Dundalk, my hometown.' In the last five years in Dundalk there's been an art revival, Shaw said, leading to the commissioning and the painting of a mural of McClintock beside the town hall. In 2022, she applied to join the residency programme that sends a number of artists and communicators to the Arctic Circle each year, and in 2023 got a place, although she was unable to attend due to being in the Antarctic at that time. This year, however, she's looking forward to making the journey and bringing back her findings. Shaw is bringing with her a collection of postcards from locals which will be stamped in Svalbard Archipelago and brought back to Louth with her. She hopes to have the postcards serve as a 'passport' of sorts that tracks her future travels and allows this supporting her at home to feel involved in her journeys. The 'Forgotten Women' quilt. She will also be honouring Irish women of science whose stories have been forgotten by bringing the 'Forgotten Women' Quilt with her. The quilt has 12 panels commemorating Irish women in science. A Dundalk flag designed by the media department at Dundalk IT will also join her in the Arctic Circle. 'I'm going to be taking video footage and finding old footage from 100 years ago to show the difference in the size of glaciers, to show how much melt there has been up there,' Shaw said. As part of the interactive walk that will be set up by mid-October on her return, there will be a focus on the landmarks that relate to McClintock, 'but also some of the lovely nature parts'. QR codes set up along the walk will enable visitors to view some of Shaw's footage from the Arctic and other findings. Of McClintock, Shaw said that she hopes her work will draw more attention to his life and achievements. 'Everyone knows about [Ernest] Shackleton,' she said, 'but [McClintock] is largely unknown in Ireland. So I felt, 'Well, this guy's story needs to be told'. 'There's a mini exhibition about him in Dundalk County Museum, but I kind of wanted to make him more nationally known.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal

‘That is BRUTAL' people cry as a tattoo artist shows off a man's hair tattoo that's giving ‘Lego businessman' vibes
‘That is BRUTAL' people cry as a tattoo artist shows off a man's hair tattoo that's giving ‘Lego businessman' vibes

The Irish Sun

time2 days ago

  • The Irish Sun

‘That is BRUTAL' people cry as a tattoo artist shows off a man's hair tattoo that's giving ‘Lego businessman' vibes

HAIR loss is a sensitive subject to many and can be very distressing, having a negative impact on your confidence. While some learn to embrace their thinning mane and bald head, it seems that one man has taken a rather drastic approach - getting his 'hair' back in the form of ink. 3 One ink fan went viral after his brand new 'hair' reminded people of a 'Lego businessman' Credit: Alamy 3 The rather usual tattoo has gone viral on TikTok, with more than 2million views in just one day Credit: TikTok/@chrischow113 3 Horrified social media users weren't so convinced by the bold inking Credit: TikTok/@chrischow113 The artist behind the masterpiece was Chuffed with his work, Chris, from Dover, Kent, posted the jaw-dropping results on TikTok - and it's since gone viral for all the wrong reasons. In The black 'tresses' were significantly darker and longer than the client's real hair, some of which had a grey and white tint. read more on beauty The rather bold tattoo also covered only the top of the man's head - whilst the bottom section still had plenty of his real hair. The brand new 'hairdo' also included a short fringe messily swept to the side and a slightly wavy effect. Chris, who posts under the username @ 'That is BRUTAL' But while the pair may have been delighted with the makeover, horrified social media users weren't so convinced by the bold inking. Most read in Fabulous More than 123,000 people gave it a like, as a further 5,118 flooded to comments where many shared their thoughts and tagged their pals. One TikToker was lost for words, writing: ''can't believe what I'm seeing.'' I was on Just Tattoo Of Us in 2019 & got the worst leg tattoos for having streaky fake tan , all I can do now is laugh Another chimed in: ''JESUS is BRUTAL.'' Meanwhile, someone else took a wild guess as to what the client had asked for to end up with the bizarre 'hairdo'. "Lego business man please,'' they joked. Tattoo Do's and Don'ts 1. Think, think and think some more Tattoos done on a whim are far more likely to lead to regret than a tattoo you thought long and hard about. Think about why you want what you've chosen. And if you still want it after a few months, then get it. 2. Age restrictions apply You must be 18 years old to be tattooed in the UK. 3. Don't haggle over the price When you go to a tattoo shop the price is the price. You are paying for an artist's time and skills, they charge what they believe those things are worth. 4. Don't get tattooed while you're hungry Eat before you go for your tattoo session and make sure you're hydrated. You're about to be subjected to a period of sustained physical discomfort, if you're feeling a little weak from hunger or you're dehydrated things will not go as smoothly as they should. 5. Don't drink alcohol before you get tattooed If you are drunk or under the influence of drugs, don't go for a tattoo. In fact, if your tattooist has anything at all about them they will turn you away if you are clearly under the influence of any intoxicating substances. I'd also avoid drinking the night before, even a few drinks will thin your blood and make your bleed more. ''I love the way you blended it with his real hair. He looks really happy,'' a viewer chuckled. ''That should be an offence,'' someone else thought. The Sun previously wrote about a man whose out looking like something out of a . Meanwhile, one woman was left mortified after she stepped into a store and realised Or another beauty buff went viral after she showed off how she squeezed into a corset - but everyone noticed

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