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This Friday 22nd September, Culture Night comes to Ireland. If this is your first time, you’re in for a real treat.
Now in its 13th year, Culture Night is an annual event that celebrates culture, art and creativity all across Ireland. Participating venues (like museums, galleries, cultural centres, libraries, theatres and bars) will open their doors late into the night to host a variety of special and unique events.
The great thing about Culture Night is that’s an incredible day and evening out for the whole family. Not only are all the events free of charge, but it’s an excellent way of introducing your children to the abundance of art and culture in Ireland. It helps stir a magical feeling of community, belonging and pride within your local scene.
If you’re taking the family out to enjoy culture night this Friday, here is our pick of the top events to look out for across Ireland.
Dublin
1) What? Mini concert for children and families at The Ark. During the show you will see some of the lovely spaces in the building, designed and built especially for children in 1995. Tickets will be available on the day from 10am at http://www.ark.ie.
Where? The Ark, 11a Eustace St, Temple Bar, D2
When? 4pm-6pm
2) What? On-street theatrical performances from The Gaiety’s talented full-time students, or try out a class for free. The school will be running Acting for Camera and Acting Club sampler classes for adults, and STEAM workshops for kids in association with Engineers Ireland, STEPS, across the duration of the evening. Advance booking is recommended.
Where? Gaiety School of Acting, Essex St West, Temple Bar, D8
When? 4pm-10pm
3) What? An Post – GPO The GPO will come alive with an evening of music and song. Send a Culture Night postcard, postage paid courtesy of An Post, to loved ones at home and abroad. Take part in the An Post Children’s Quiz and be in with a chance to win a One4all Gift Card.
Where? General Post Office, O’Connell St Lower, D1
When? 5.30pm-9pm
4)What? Children’s Books Ireland @ Hodges Figgis Colouring the City with Children’s Books Ireland at Hodges Figgis. Picturebook makers Lucy Cousins (A Busy Day for Birds and Maisy Mouse) and Rob Biddulph (Kevin) will be creating art in the beautiful historic window at Hodges Figgis, come on down and tell them what you want to see! Inside, the Children’s Books Ireland Book Doctor will prescribe the perfect books for young readers.
Where? 56-58 Dawson St, D2
When? 5pm-9pm
Carlow
5) What? Multicultural Celebration at Forward Steps Family Resource Centre. Visit a variety of stalls with ‘hands on’ arts and crafts, food tasting, national costumes, and music from local multicultural communities. Including special launch of multicultural mosaic created by members of local diverse community.
Where? Forward Steps Family Resource Centre, Tullow
When? 3pm-5pm
Clare
6) What? ‘THERIANTHROPHY’ – Clare County Arts Office presents an exciting visual arts exhibition by internationally acclaimed artist Marie Connole. Therianthrophy is the mythological ability of human beings to metamorphose into other animals by means of shapeshifting. The artist will provide a public talk on the series. All ages are welcome for what will be an enlightening discussion on an intriguing subject of shapeshifting.
Where? Clare Museum Foyer
When? 6.30pm-7.30pm
Cork City
7) What? Music Generation Cork City in partnership with local music education organisations present two concerts: music & brass band performances (12pm – 1.30pm) and rock & pop, rappers, traditional Irish music & brass bands (6.30pm – 8.30pm). At 4pm, join MAKING MOVES for a dance workshop with acrobatics! Ages 7+
Where? City Hall, Eglinton St.
When? 12pm – 8.30pm
8) What? Graffiti offers a Fighting Words Workshop for 8-10 year olds. Fighting Words is an exciting creative writing workshop for children, empowering them as young authors to use their imaginations to create an original story together.
Where? Graffiti Theatre
When? 5pm-8pm
9) What? Visions School of Art will provide a series of dropin creative exercises, which will stimulate the imaginations of children and adults alike. This is a great event for parents to attend with their children.
Where? Gr Top Floor, Granary House, Rutland St., Off South Terrace
When? 5pm-11pm
10) What? Kid’s Culture – Fun for kids and kids at heart: ‘Listen Janey Mac’ by Dowtcha Puppets at 7pm (ages 6+); the amazing Tallest Smallest Circus Show by Arran Towers at 7:45pm (all ages); and balloon art from Aaron the Balloon Man.
Where? Floor 16, County Hall, Carrigrohane Road
When? 7pm-8.30pm
Galway
11) What? Kid’s Culture – Fun for kids and kids at heart: ‘Listen Janey Mac’ by Dowtcha Puppets at 7pm (ages 6+); the amazing Tallest Smallest Circus Show by Arran Towers at 7:45pm (all ages); and balloon art from Aaron the Balloon Man.
Where? Floor 16, County Hall, Carrigrohane Road
When? 7pm-8.30pm
12) What? Wonder through the medieval streets of Athenry and discover fairies in the library, a pop up string quartet, see drummers in the market square and music in the heritage centre. Experience a range of free cultural activities for all the family to enjoy.
Where? Athenry Library, Athenry Heritage Centre, The Market Square and the streets of Athenry
When? 5pm-10pm
13) What? Claregalway Castle Fairies, Pixies and Goblins – join enchanting fairy folk, the wonderful young dancers of Youth Ballet West in the magical medieval setting of Claregalway Castle.
Where? Claregalway Castle
When? 6pm-10pm
14) What? Rediscover Stories With Baboró. Join Baboró and local artist Phillida Eves for an afternoon of creative storytelling and exploration in your community. Families are welcome to come and read together and tell each other stories using some unusual visual art and craft materials in a supported, playful way.
Where? Clare The Courthouse, Oughterard
When? 2.30pm-4.30pm
Kerry
15) What? Creative Ireland Kerry Youth Choral Open Session. Everyone can sing and you can too. Come along and hear the singing, join in the sign-a-long, meet the conductor and the singers.
Where? St. John’s Theatre & Arts Centre.
When? 5.30pm-6.30pm
16) What? Medieval Family Fun. Members of the Kerry Medieval Living History Group in period costume in Geraldine Tralee. Chat with them about life and death in the Middle Ages.
Where? Kerry County Museum, Denny Street
When? 6pm-10pm
17) What? Culture Night at Siamsa Tíre. Dance workshops, choral performances, interactive visual arts events for families and young people, along with plenty of music and a few surprises on the night. An evening performance of dance under the direction of Catherine Young, IT TAKES A VILLAGE is a new dance show inspired by Ireland’s new communities, their music, dance and songs.
Where? Siamsa Tíre, Town Park
When? 5pm-10pm
Kildare
18) What? Teddy Bears Sleepover. Susan Boyle will host an evening for children and their favourite cuddly friends including crafts, storytelling and a movie. Afterwards tuck your teddy up for a sleep-over in the library. Come back the next morning for a story time, collect your certificate and see what mischief everyone got up to overnight!
Where? Leixlip Community Library
When? 5.30pm-7pm & Sat 11.30am
Laois
19) What? Samba Drum Performance in association with Music Generation Laois. Under the direction of drumming specialist Peter Crann and Eddie O’Neill from Music Generation Laois. A highlight of the event will be a performance by a visiting professional Samba Band who will be joined by members of the Music Generation Laois Samba programme and children from local primary schools who have participated in workshops in preparation for the event.
Where? The Plaza, Áras an Chontae, Portlaoise
When? 5pm
Leitrim
20) What? The Glens Centre Stolen Child – The Magic Of Glencar. Leitrim’s most celebrated waterfall is the place to be this Culture Night, as the faeries flit down from the hills above Glen-Car to try to lure you away to their haunts beyond the wandering waters, the rushes and the ferns evoked by W B Yeats in his wonderful poem, “The Stolen Child.” The Rabbit’s Riot Theatre Company will present you with a new and thrilling production based on “The Stolen Child”. There will be a bus from the Glens Centre at 6.45pm or meet at Glencar Tea Shed at 7pm for refreshments and magic cakes before the adventure.
Where? Glencar Waterfall
When? 7pm-8.30pm, workshops 11am-1pm, 1.45pm-4pm
Limerick
21) What? Pigtown Comes to the Milk Market. Pigtown by the Limerick Food Group brings this little piggy event to the Milk Market. Featuring Pig Talks, Pig Parade Walks, Pig Pottery Making for all ages, Street Food, Cooking Demos and much more. Visit Pigtown.ie and Limerick Milk Market Facebook for more info on this Food and Culture Series.
Where? Milk Market, Cornmarket Row
When? 5pm-8pm
22) What Family Workshop Limerick Gallery of Art. An energetic workshop for families while they view the current exhibition on display.
Where? Limerick Gallery of Art, Carnegie Building, Pery Square
When? 6pm-8pm
23) What Limerick Printmakers ‘Print Your Heart Out!’ Kids Print Activities. Come to Limerick Printmakers on Culture Night & print your heart out! LP will have tons of fun kids print activities to try out with our friendly members on hand to help. There’s a wall just waiting to be covered with inky stamps plus lots of printmaking to try!
Where? Limerick Printmakers, Bridgeland House, 3 Johns Square
When? 5pm-8pm
Monaghan
24) What? A Crafty Music Evening @ Monaghan Library. Come celebrate Culture Night in Monaghan branch library from 5pm with demonstrations of ceramics and patchworks, whilst listening to traditional Irish music, view the Monaghan Photographic Society exhibition and taste samples of multicultural cookery and snacks from the around the world in a relaxing atmosphere. The Busy Bees ceramics demonstration will allow adults and children the opportunity to try their hand at pottery.
Where? Monaghan Library
When? 5pm
Offaly
25) What? VR Culture Party. Be amazed by the world of virtual reality! Visit a Fine Art Museum, creatively paint an entire room, be inside an animated movie or build a unique sculpture. A whole new eye-opening experience brought to you in one room.
Where? Unit 3, Sragh Business Park, Tullamore
When? 10am-10pm
Roscommon
26) What? Summers Stars Reading Challenge 2017 And Storytelling. Presentation of Medals and Certificates for the Summer Stars programme at 6.15pm. This will be followed by Storytelling with Danielle Allison for 7–10 year olds.
Where? County Library, Roscommon
When? 6.15pm-7.15pm
Tipperary
27) What? ‘Song of the Sea’ animated film in the Brewery Lane Theatre followed by a music and folk evening in the Tearoom.
Where? Brewery Lane Theatre & Arts Centre
When? 6.30pm-10pm
28) What? Brú Ború will host a Culture Night Youth Concert followed by an outside performance from Fire Breathers and Drumming Show. Cashel Arts Festival presents this event to unite people with the magical power of music, from classical to contemporary. It supports local young performers who play musical instruments and would like to share their wonderful gift with other people.
Where? Brú Ború
When? 6.30pm-7.45pm
Sligo
29) What? Away with the Fairies! A world of changelings, faeries and magic. Combining circus skills and high drama, this fascinating family show will amaze and delight.
Where? The Factory
When? 7pm, 8pm & 9pm Booking: 071 9138489.
Wicklow
30) What? A Musical Evening For All Ages. ie Alchemy Music presents a Culture Night celebration of music for all the family. This diverse concert will feature two versatile Ashford-based artists, Mike and Marta Nielsen, performing a charming repertoire for jazz guitar and accordion. Other performers on the night will include the dynamic and energetic traditional group Perfect Friction. The concert will also provide an opportunity for the audience to participate in some musicmaking under the direction of highly experienced community musician, Linda Ferguson.
Where? Nun’s Cross Church, Ashford
When? 7pm-9pm
For more information and a full schedule of Culture Night events and activities across Ireland, visit: CultureNight.ie
Are you planning to take part in any of the events of the Culture Night 2017? Which is your favourite one? Which event would you recommend? Feel free to share your tips and experience here in the comments or on social media by adding the hashtag #myIrishlife.
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