Culture Night is a national day brought to you by the Arts Council celebrating all that makes up the richness and diversity of culture in Ireland today; connecting people to cultural activities locally and nationally and opening up pathways to ongoing engagement. There are over 40 events happening in Athenry, Ballinasloe, Ballinderreen, Ballygar, Ballyglunin, Claregalway, Clarinbridge, Clifden, Clonbur, Gort, Headford, Inagh Valley, Indrebhán, Inish Óirr, Inishbofin, Kinvara, Mountbellew, Newbridge, Oranmore, Rosscahill, Roundstone, Tuam and online.
Enjoy ‘Strings that Sing & The Showband Story’ plus ‘The Life and Times of the Athenry Railway Hotel to the Athenry Hotel School’ in Athenry. ‘Eight’ an exhibition by Group 8 at Ballinasloe Town Hall will launch at 7pm and all are welcome. Ballinderreen residents can enjoy a special ‘Sketching Workshop on Wildlife’ at the Ballinderreen Community Centre. Ballygar Tidy Towns present a wonderful cultural gathering for ‘Ballygar Culture Night’. Claregalway has a treat in store with Youth Ballet West’s ‘Faerie Dances’.
Don’t miss ‘Wild Women Poets’ in Clarinbridge, which will feature three Galway poets Rita Ann Higgins, Sarah Clancy & Elaine Feeney. There will be readings followed by a conversation in the beautiful setting of SCCUL Sanctuary or the hugely enjoyable ‘Sing Along Social’ in Clifden. Experience ‘Tree Whispering’ and ‘Eco Art and Painting in your Present’ in Clonbur. The Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society present ‘Shadow Navigation’ in Gort and Headford residents can enjoy the Solstice Arts Group’s ‘Return of the Mic!’ plus ‘Textile Roots’ by the Headford Lace Project.
The beautiful Inagh Valley is the backdrop for ‘Origins, Falling in Love Outward and Healing Point’ with Interface. In Indrebhán, Pastime Chonamara present ‘Taispeántas Ceardaíochta agus Sean Leabhair’ and over in Inis Óirr you can check out ‘Cúirt Cheoil na mBan’ across the island and at Áras Éanna. Inishbofin will ‘Rock Bofin’ whilst Kinvara Area Visual Arts (KAVA ) will present ‘Altered State / the liquid of our modernity’. Music Matters in Mountbellew with ‘Choro Sounds’ and in Newbridge, Shelia Flanagan and the Artform Collective will enjoy the ‘Lure of the Local’.
Our four online events include ‘Macushla Radio Drama’ by the Skehana and District Heritage Group, ‘Solas Photography Club Exhibition’, ‘Write-On launch 'Anthology 2023' and 'Sisters' and ‘The Nursing Home Project’ by Rachel Uí Fhaoláin.
Oranmore is not to be outdone with many events happening across the day and evening. Head to the ‘Drop-In Drumming Workshop’ at Oranmore Library, a reading of ‘Different Versions by Martina Regan’ by Buladh Bos Drama Group, ‘Culture Night Traditional Irish Music and Song’ with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Oranmore, ‘Cows and a Chicken’ at the Stúidió Mór, Limelight Creative Arts Exhibition Space, ‘Movie Night’ with Nova Productions and Unboxed Oranmore present both ‘Molly O'Mahony and Matthew Noone at Brazco’ plus ‘Unboxed After Hours at Armorica’.
If you are in Rosscahill, pop into Brigit’s Garden for their ‘Green Man Herbal Walk’ or head to Roundstone for ‘Roundstone Inspirations’ and ‘The Most Painted Village in Ireland’.
If you live in Tuam you can choose between ‘FUSE Trad Night’ by Fuse Music Collective, ‘The History of Tuam for Children’ with Patricia King-Callaghan and Rachel Varden, ‘Walking in Ulysses’ with Sinead Hayes or in Ballyglunin Three Rings present ‘An Artful Brew’– Why not experience all four for this special national day celebrating all things cultural!
Culture Night is about openness, discovery, celebration and belonging. Doors are opened late into the evening across the county featuring a huge variety of special and unique events programmed in person and online. All activities are free.
For full details of events happening for Culture Night near you visit CultureNight.ie Keep up to date via Galway Culture Night on Facebook and on Twitter @Galway_Culture
