Maureen Kennelly, Director of the Arts Council, shares her top five event highlights from Culture Night 2022 …
Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir 2022 is back this coming Friday September 23, with a programme packed with over 1,700 rich and diverse events taking place in towns, cities and villages across the country. It’s one night for all to enjoy and Culture Night invites everyone, everywhere to come out, discover and celebrate all that is our culture today.
This national ‘moment’ connects everyone to cultural activities locally and nationally and is brought to you by the Arts Council in partnership with local authorities and cultural organisations throughout the island of Ireland. Maureen Kennelly, Director of the Arts Council, shares five event highlights taking place on Friday night.
1 Read Mór (Nationwide)
Literature lovers travelling on Irish Rail Intercity and Bus Éireann Expressway services on Culture Night should keep an eye out for Read Mór Book Conductors. As part of the Arts Council 70th anniversary programme, they’ll be gifting passengers one of 21 different books by Irish-based authors and publishers, including Colm Tóibín; Claire Keegan; Doireann Ní Ghríofra, Marian Keyes, Annie West and David O’Doherty.
2. Home Art Exhibition Celebrating the Life and Works of Our Community (Dublin)
The exhibition at the Matt Talbot Community Trust will celebrate the work of three artists Pat Curran, John Farrell, and Stuart Murphy.
Pat has exhibited widely, including This City Life, Ballyfermot Library, and Home in Pallas Projects/Studios. Pat uses found objects, photos capturing images of a lost Dublin, and communities hidden from the public eye that profoundly impact the viewer.
John has exhibited in Leixlip Library and The Icon Factory, working in fine copper to create his bespoke pieces of Celtic knotwork and historical buildings. His skill was learned from his father and is fast becoming a lost art in Ireland.
Stuart is an emerging artist who paints emotion and thought through abstract art. This is his first exhibit.
3. PARADISE CABARET (Kerry)
New for Culture Night 2022 is Culture Night Late, a range of specially programmed events across the country running later into the night than previous years and many into the early hours. One of these events is Paradise Cabaret, a whirlwind journey into a comically absurd, skilfully slick and ridiculously entertaining Cabaret. A Paradise Cabaret Special of comedy, circus, dance and music with the funnest “weirdos” and “queerdos” around. It’s time to ditch the old Gods and embrace the cultural revolution of colour, carnival and chaos. Where frivolous entertainment meets serious culture and we blur the lines, blur the vision and refocus on a more fantastical and art-filled future.
4. SIONNA Festival Presents: Culture Night, Live at King John Castle (Limerick)
Another Culture Night Late event, SIONNA is delighted to present Culture Night in King John’s Castle, Co Limerick. This night will include some of the best live electronic music acts and DJs from around Ireland with plenty of diversity and style to appeal to all audiences. The aim for this event is to promote Irish night culture and support very talented local Irish artists by giving them a stage to showcase their craft. This event will also include live mural paintings and art installations by skilful local artists and collectives that will run throughout the course of the day. The line-up consists of Live Electronic Acts: R.Kitt, Paddy Mulcahy, Fehdah, Rumi. Live Mural Painting by: Ohhi Ohno. Art Installation by: XplusX Collective.
5. Youth Provides (Longford)
The former Providers Building has become Longford’s new favourite performance/exhibition space. This year the space will become host to some of Longford and Irelands most talented Classical musicians and performers when Dylan Hanly (who recently won the Piano Academy of Ireland National Piano Festival open Étude Category and Virtuoso Cup), Mairead Kehoe ( Violinist) and Ella Mulligan ( Soprano) take to the stage alongside répétiteur Fintan Farrelly and curated by Fr Tom Murray.