"Youth Lunch & Learn Series" Returns:
Irish Fairies & Ogham Stone Writing

Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m. (Irish Fairies)

    12:00 p.m. (Lunch)

1:00 p.m. (Ogham Stone Writing)

Cost: FREE to children of all ethnicities aged 8-14 (lunch for students is included - advanced registration is required)

Location: "The Gallery" at the H.A.R.P. Museum located on the second floor of the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley at 623 Columbia St., Utica

Register: https://bit.ly/3PA6jN2 

Contact: Chris Hoke at (315) 733-4228 Ext. 6 or irishccmv@gmail.com

Want to give your kids a break from their screens during Spring Break?

We’ve got the answer. The H.A.R.P. Museum at the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley is pleased to announce the resumption of Youth Lunch & Learn sessions with two classes planned for April 9, 2026.  

The series, a continuation of the Irish-themed classes that proved to be so popular with kids during the Winter Break this year, will start up again on Thursday April 9th, with a class on “All About the Fairies” starting at 10 AM, and an afternoon session on “Ogham Writing on Stone” from 1-3 PM. All supplies will be provided; kids only need to bring their imagination!  

Attendees at both classes will also be treated to a free lunch in the Five Points Public House at noon. Parents/guardians are welcome to attend any of the classes and/or the lunch (they will have to pay for their own lunch).

“All About the Fairies” 

The landscape of Ireland is rich in mythology, with the Irish fairies occupying a central role in its folklore. At the morning session, our own Patty Foley will present some Irish folklore about the fairies, then will lead students in making their own little fairy using a wooden peg doll.  

“Ogham Writing on Stone”

The afternoon class will have Patty teaching students about the ancient Ogham alphabet, which was used primarily in early Irish language writing. Children will learn about the history and usage of this "tree alphabet," and then will apply what they've learned to write their names and other simple words using this "secret code” on stone, as it was done in ancient times.   

These classes are being offered to children of all ethnicities aged 8-14. As always, there is no charge for these classes or the lunch; however, each class has limited seating, so advance registration is required, at https://bit.ly/3PA6jN2. 

Acknowledgments

This youth programming series, aimed at introducing young people of our area to the history and culture of Ireland, is funded through donations made by public supporters of all things Irish during the 2025 MV Gives campaign, and by the generous matching funds from the UpMobility Foundation and the Senator James H. Donovan Memorial Fund.

Help us plan for future events!

We are always looking for suggestions for Youth Lunch and Learn topics and activities.  Do you or your kids/grandkids have anything they’d like us to put together during school breaks? Maybe you’d like to head up a class yourself? We welcome your ideas… Feel free to contact Chris Hoke at (315) 733-4228 Ext. 6 or send her an email to irishccmv@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you!

Where to Find Us

The H.A.R.P. Museum is located on the second floor of the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley, 623 Columbia St, Utica. All are welcome to attend these classes, and the museum is wheelchair accessible.

Join us for our latest “Youth Lunch and Learn” classes - Where you can feed your mind and your belly! ☘️

See all of our upcoming cultural events!