Culture Night in Laois
Catch A Little Culture In Laois As Ireland’s Annual Nocturnal Cultural Extravaganza Returns
Culture Night 2018: Friday 21st September
On Friday September 21st hundreds of thousands of people across the country will lose themselves in their imagination and an explosion of creativity as the country comes alive for Culture Night, Ireland’s annual nocturnal cultural extravaganza. Laois County Council is delighted to be once again taking part in Culture Night. The programme of activities in Laois is now available here or here or can be found In public venues around the county.
Culture is catching and each year Culture Night brings people together to create unique shared experiences and memories. All for FREE! From generations of families consuming and exploring new night-time adventures to groups of friends enjoying cultural genres they might never have before. Highlights of events taking place in Laois include:
- Circus Street Theatre performance and Circus Skills Workshop by Maria Corcoran and friends at the Plaza, County Hall 4.30-5.30.
- Explore Cultural Connections at the Parish Centre Portlaoise with music, song and dance displays by intercultural groups from 6pm-8pm.
- Exhibitions include ‘A Painted Otherworld’, focusing on the surreal at the Dunamaise Arts Centre from 7pm and an exhibition by resident artists at Laois Arthouse Stradbally titled “The Stradbally Six” opening from 5pm-8pm.
- Singer-songwriter James O’Connor and his band will appear at the Dunamaise Arts Centre, for a show presented by Music Generation Laois.
- Roundwood House, Mountrath visit a Pop Up Exhibition by artist Jen Donnery – ‘Hidden Spaces’ from 5pm – a free bus leaves County Hall at 4.30pm also.
- ‘Stories from the Past’at Heritage House, Abbeyleix where Local school children will read stories from the 1930’s schools collection initiative as well as new stories.
- An interactive visual arts event called ‘Fold and Rise’ at Castlewood Farm, Durrow from 7.30-9.30 with artist Maeve Collins – Bring a mixing bowl!.
- ‘The Best of the Irish’ at the Balcony Theatre, Mountmellick, where the great Irish writers of prose, poetry, drama, music and song come alive from 8pm.
- Puppet Shows and Storytime by Julie Rose McCormick, in Portarlington Library at 3.30 and in Stradbally Library at 6pm.
Just some of the list of events happening in Laois for all the family to enjoy.
This years Laois Culture Night Ambassador is Actor Emmet Byrne, a native of County Laois. He most recently starred as Sean Bourke in Cell Mates at The Hampstead Theatre, London and in RTÉ’s Striking Out. Commenting on this year’s programme of events Emmet says ‘ I am honoured to be the 2018 Laois Culture Night Laois ambassador. People being exposed to and engaging with the arts is absolutely vital to maintain Ireland’s rich cultural heritage. Without that, we lose something essential to our identity as individuals and as a country. I hope people get out there and really enjoy the many cultural opportunities that will be on offer in Laois’.
Laois Culture Night Ambassador Actor Emmet Byrne
Minister for Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD, said: “we are lucky to have a rich and varied culture in Ireland. Culture Night once again provides people across the country with the perfect opportunity to get out and immerse themselves in it for one evening. Visit a venue you might never have thought of visiting before or surprise yourself and explore a new cultural genre. With a huge choice of venues open from museums, galleries, theatres and studios to libraries, parks and historic buildings, and even more events programmed, I encourage everyone to come out and enjoy an evening of cultural discovery. Whether it’s a one off performance or getting a glimpse behind the doors of our beautiful, historic buildings, I hope people across Ireland will take a little time between now and September 21st to explore the programme and plan your own Culture Night.”
As ever Culture Night will be online and the culturally curious are encouraged to explore the website this year with added features to plan their Culture Night adventures and routes in advance. New this year will be the Culture Night Podcast, a series of special podcast episodes with contributions from familiar faces and emerging talents in Ireland’s cultural sphere. Produced in association with Headstuff Podcast Network, the podcasts will delve into different facets of culture and the arts, with some leading thinkers, doers and makers exploring the ways in which our cultural heritage enhances our experiences. Episodes will be available to download across all platforms here on the morning of Friday 21st September, helping to whet the appetite for all the fun-filled activity that lies ahead that night.
The full programme of events and participating venues for Culture Night 2018 is now available here.
Join the conversation online at www.facebook.com/CultureNight, www.twitter.com/CultureNight and www.instagram.com/CultureNight
#CultureNight #OícheChultúir