Culture Night takes to the skies, the waters, the main stages and the back lanes of Ireland in this, its 21st year. With more than a thousand free things to do across the country, the event gives the lie to the idea that culture has to be highbrow, and this year’s line-up proves that culture, as musician and artist Brian Eno once described it, is “anything you don’t have to do”. There is also a welcome emphasis on community-led events in this year’s programme.
Organised types will already have planned their itineraries and booked their spots, as many events do book out early. Still, there’s plenty of available craic to be had. We’ve gone off the beaten track for 12 picks to get you going. See culturenight.ie for more.
Making Shapes: We Make the City at Segotia Rathmines, Co Dublin
It’s the closing night of Rich Gilligan’s exhibition, Earth Tourist, and the team at Segotia in Rathmines are asking you to come and shape the future out of clay in the company of Tatiana Smith-St Kitts of Folly Design Studio. Sculpt something you love to take its place in an ideal Dublin cityscape, and see what comes up as a new city emerges. With BLKCVNS DJing in the back garden, we suspect there may be dancing too.
From 7.30pm to 10pm, suitable for all ages, no booking required.
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Heavy Weights: Eight Tonnes at St Michael’s Square, Ballinasloe, Co Galway
Dancers, performers, choreographers, digital and new media artists, oh – and a clatter of tractors too: Eight Tonnes is an after-dark performance, installation and tractor parade at St Michael’s Square, Ballinasloe. Breda Larkin, Kev Freeney, Linda Schirmer, Scott Robinson and Ultan Conlon have teamed up with Macra Galway for a seriously heavyweight session.
From 9pm to 11pm, suitable for all ages, no booking required.
Tasting the Past: Foodlore at Townparks in Co Longford
Oyama Sushi play host to an evening of family history in this workshop, where you’re invited to sample tasty Japanese treats while sharing your own family tales in the form of a recipe exchange. Bring a recipe from your own family, and share the stories of what this meal means to you. Mine’s a toss-up between shepherd’s pie and my mum’s lovely chicken in wine.
From 7.30pm to 8.30pm, suitable for all ages, booking required.
Tales Tall and Short: A Tapestry of Tales in Listowel, Co Kerry
As luck would have it, Culture Night falls within the Listowel International Storytelling Festival, which runs from September 17th to 20th, and there’s a European flavour to the stories this year. The line-up includes creatives from Czechia, Germany and Belgium, so expect music, stories, myths and memories to expand your horizons at the Kerry Writers’ Museum.
From 7.30pm to 9.30pm, suitable for all ages, no booking required
The West’s Asleep: Sleeping Giant in Sligo Town, Co Sligo
Tom Meskell’s illuminated sculpture, Sleeping Giant, beds down in Sligo town, accompanied by a host of other lit-up lovelies, courtesy of the Creative Ireland workshops that have been running over the past few months. Add in a dose of live drumming to get the atmosphere all charged up, and it should be pretty spectacular; or at very least, nicely brightening. Lighting up time: 9pm.
From 7.30pm to 10.30pm, suitable for all ages, no booking required.
Good Enough to Eat: Pálás an Phobail, Festival Printworks Gallery, Galway
We’re in the thick of the Architecture at the Edge Festival in Galway, so there’s a series of intriguing things to feast your eyes on, including an outdoor installation on Druid Lane, a happening at the Mick Lally Theatre, and yet another feast in the form of a culinary exploration in the special-for-the-festival Pálás an Phobail/ People’s Palace at Galway’s Festival Printworks Gallery. Moving through different spaces, you’ll encounter ideas, memories and snacks, courtesy of Blanka Major, Hinterland and Cóilí Collins.
From 7pm to 11pm, suitable for all ages, booking required.
Allotted Adventures: Plants of the World, Enniscorthy Community Allotments, Co Wexford
Allotments have become all the horticultural rage again, as new generations are discovering the joys of a little patch of earth to call their own. From fresh veg to flowers, peace and quiet to neighbourly chats, allotments are where it’s at. Enniscorthy’s come alive on Culture Night with music, an open mic, face painting, food and drink, and a chance to discover what’s being grown there by the green-fingered types from around the world who have wound up in these happy acres.
From 6pm to 8pm, suitable for all ages, no booking required.
Down with Digital: Breaking the Narrative at An Táin, Dundalk, Co Louth
Some of the Culture Night events at Dundalk’s An Táin are already sold out (sorry, Lords of Strut fans), but the “tactile workshop exploring digital ennui” could be just what the teen-doctor ordered. Led by Emma Barry, these workshops get you making using paint and thread, inspiring fun with fingers, instead of scrolling with thumbs all night long. The workshop for 13- to 18-year-olds is at 6pm, and ages 18 and up can get stuck in at 7.30pm. The Culture Night Cabaret by Kismet kicks off at 8pm.
From 6pm to 9pm, various ages, booking required for some events.
Stargazing: Culture Night at the Castle, MTU Blackrock Castle Observatory, Blackrock, Co Cork
Cross your fingers for clear skies as Blackrock Castle Observatory opens its doors to show us the heavens from earth. There’ll be astronomy presentations, space exhibits and family friendly workshops. The Cork Astronomy Club will host a live stargazing session, weather permitting, too. Come early, as it’s a case of first come, first served where the stellar chats are concerned.
From 6pm to 11pm, suitable for all ages, no booking required.
Africa Fashions: Threads of Culture at Mamma A’s restaurant, Dublin Street, Longford
Meet the designers and other creatives from Longford’s diverse communities, with displays of African fabrics and fashion. Expect music, community models and a catwalk showcase, upcycling demos, plus light refreshments too – just don’t get any on the threads.
From 6pm to 9pm, suitable for all ages, no booking required.
Dance Fusion: Ancestral Echoes and Streetwise Steps at Esker Arts Centre, Tullamore, Co Offaly
Step into the Esker Arts Centre for a whistle-stop (we mean 25-minute) multicultural dance journey. Starting with the ancient roots of Indian classical dance, next it’s a step into hip hop fusion and tribal evolution, followed by a fabulous violin finale. Featuring Irish, Canadian, Spanish and Indian artists, tapping feet are guaranteed.
From 7.30pm to 8.55pm, all ages, booking required.
Apocalypse Soon? Earthquakes and Other Geohazards at Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Dublin
Did you know that Ireland holds a special place in the history of earthquake studies? We have the mid-19th-century engineer Robert Mallet to thank for that. He coined the term “epicentre” to describe the point on the ground immediately above an earthquake. Previously, presumably, people had to expend far more words on what they were trying to say as the earth shook and things collapsed around them. Discover all this and more as you step into the wonderful world of live earthquake monitoring.
From 7pm to 9.30pm, suitable for all ages, no booking required.
