MY CULTURE NIGHT: KILKENNY: Although I live in Galway, I'm spending a lot of time back at the home place in Kilkenny because I'm working on next months Kilkenomics festival and I've recently taken over as artistic director of the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival.
The Watergate Theatre, formerly the cinema where I saw ‘Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark’, has a lovely lunchtime recital by Korean piano virtuoso Young-Choon Park. There's a writers' evening with Michael Coady and Kit Fryatt in the Hole in the Wall, an amazing restored 16th century supper house that we use as a venue for Kilkenomics.
The Butler Gallery in Kilkenny Castle has a great programme of talks, film, installations and diversions from 6pm and there's a great looking event at St Canice's Cathedral where painter Gullermo Carrion will create work live accompanied by a soundtrack created by Donal Dineen and uilleann piper Matiu O’Casaide.
Lunchtime concert
South Korean pianist, Young-Choon Park, who first played Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 1 with the Seoul Symphony Orchestra aged nine, performs at The Watergate Theatre Parliament Street at 1.10pm. Advance booking is advised and among the works expected are Beethoven and Liszt.
[ watergatetheatre.comOpens in new window ]
Culinary culture
The National Craft gallery presents a programme of culinary culture inspired by its current exhibition entitled Utensil. An evening of music performance and workshops is planned with participants taught how to turn kitchen utensils into musical instruments. You can also learn how to sculpt and make print designs.
Runs from 4.30pm. nationalcraftgallery.ie
Art of Music
An exploration of the links between art and music, led by Donal Dineen, Maitiu O’Casaide and Guillermo Carrion, will result in artists working to a live improvised soundtrack and uilleann pipes. It takes place in the atmospheric surrounds of St Canice’s Cathedral at 7pm and is expected to be one of the highlights of the night’s events.
Runs from 7pm
[ stcanicescathedral.comOpens in new window ]
Sustainable Writing Workshop
Kilkenny Writers Group presents writers Michael Coady and Kim Fryatt who will discuss what constitutes literary success and the various avenues open to persons wanting to become published poets. The workshop will look at a variety of issues such as publishing, education, funding and festivals and the organisers say the aim is to “explore, demystify and bring grounding to the notion of the writer today.”
Runs at the Hole in the Wall at 6pm and will be followed by a poetry reading.
Selection of video works
Belgian artist Hans Op de Beeck works with a host of disciplines including sculpture, installation, video, photography, animated films, drawings, painting and short stories. This, his first solo exhibition in Ireland, consists of four video works, including the ‘Sea of Tranquility’, which has attracted positive notices.
Runs at the Butler Gallery from 6.30-10pm. butlergallery.com
