Culture Night coordinator Melissa Nolan shares some of her top recommendations from this year’s programme …
This year, we mark the 20th anniversary milestone of Culture Night in Dublin. From humble beginnings with just 40 venues in Temple Bar, Culture Night has grown to become the largest multidisciplinary cultural event in the country. In a nod to Daniel O’Connell’s 250th anniversary, for the first time O’Connell Street will be buzzing with exciting events, including Talking Statues which will bring some of the street’s iconic statues to life with period actors and a “tea dance” planned for beneath Clery’s Clock, accompanied by a full swing band.
With the support of Dublin City Council, we have been able to programme an incredible array of activities into key locations across the city. Wood Quay Amphitheatre will play host to performances by Farah Elle, GrooveLine and comedian Sharon Mannion, to name a few. At Meeting House Square, we have a range of performances from artists who are part of the rise of the Irish language in pop music, including Calum Agnew, Lisa Murray and Earthmover. For some family fun, Louise O’Connor is leading a lively set dancing session, and you won’t want to miss dancer Favour Odusola’s mind-blowing performance blending Nigerian and Irish culture.
In the early evening, an event called Peru Fusion will take over Central Plaza, featuring performances and workshops of Peruvian traditional dance styles. Later in the night, the City Sounds event will transform the Plaza into an open-air disco dance floor, while Echo Exchange will curate Capel Street with an eclectic mix of up-and-coming techno DJs. Meanwhile, The Lab on Foley Street will present The Poetry’s Dead Live Podcast show, presented by Ryan Duggins and Leon Dunne, as well as an evening of theatre by the Shifting Stages theatre collective.
Across the city, GalleryX on Hume Street will offer a night of wearable creativity with its Alternative Fashion showcase. The Irish Writers Centre will host live readings featuring author Mary O’Donnell and spoken word artist Vagabond Queen, while a walking tour called Swift’s Dublin will explore the streets and tales of 18th-century life in the capital. Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Sean McDermott Street, best known as the Shrine of Matt Talbot (famed for overcoming alcoholism) will play host to a performance featuring the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and Fr Collins Park will host Opera in the Open, an outdoor concert gala. The National Library of Ireland’s new podcaster in residence Zoë Comyns will host a pop-up collection podcast inspired by the library’s rich collection of books, newspapers and journals.
Elsewhere, Kerlin Gallery will transform into a pop-up bookshop, showcasing monographs, catalogues and books from their collection of gallery artists. Alliance Française Dublin is set to present an evening filled with French music at their new Madeleine Café, featuring a performance by the French duo La Sérénade du Pavé and DJ Chach Des Wé, and the Irish Traditional Music Archive will host a series of recitals by some of the country’s top traditional musicians.
For one night of the year become a tourist in your own town, discover a hidden gem within the city, or simply meet and pay tribute to the wonderful artists and creatives who make our city such a magical place to live.
Need to know: Culture Night Dublin takes place on September 19 from 4pm. All events are free for the public to attend.
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