Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir 2022 is back this coming Friday 23rd September, 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. The momentous night puts a spotlight on the quality and breadth of Ireland’s existing cultural offerings and institutions.
With a captivating celebration of culture in Ireland today, the programme spans the national cultural spectrum and is the perfect chance to come out and enjoy a taste of what’s on offer from our culture creators across the country all year round. From art to architecture, culture to comedy, music to museums, handcrafting to heritage, sport to science, film to fashion, dance, literature and much more, there’s something for all ages and interests to enjoy on this fantastic night.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD said, “Culture Night continues to evolve and diversify every year and it is fantastic to see that dance and club culture and the electronic music scene feature throughout this year’s programme with some eclectic gigs and events taking place across the city and country in support of the Night-Time Economy initiative – I am looking forward to enjoying some of what our city has to offer this year and getting to experience something different. Thank you to all the artists and venues involved in what promises to be another great year for Culture Night”.
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. In Dublin, Natives see Black Canvas curate an event that showcases the rich and underground culture of neo Irish-Afrolism, a healthy blend of Irish, UK, West-African and American, with dance cyphers and performances by Abi Coullibaly and Sello; Fíbín sa Taibhdhearc will transform Galway’s Middle Street into a dreamlike pop-up Gaeltacht with a brass band leading audiences as they are dazzled by a series of surreal performance art pieces erupting on every corner; in Tipperary enjoy an explosion of unique & unapologetic queer female led entertainment with THE WILD GEEZE, farmer Breda Larkin from the metropolis of Ballinasloe and burlesque chanteuse Miss Lavelle; while Awaken Mabon Awaken Youth – Cónocht an Fhómhair / Autumn Equinox in Tralee, Kerry hosts a cultural celebration concert of the Autumn Equinox with druids, DJs, fire and music including the Dingle Druid, Oracle, The Rising and Aftershock, culminating in the Awaken Mabon Fire Spectacle; SIONNA at King John’s Castle in Limerick hosts a night of the best live electronic music acts and DJs from around Ireland with live mural paintings and art installations by local skilled artists and collectives; and in Cork, Magic Nights by the Lee at Cork City Hall brings together some of Cork’s most legendary artists with some of the freshest sounds by contemporary musicians from the city and county, including Stevie G, Minnie Marley, Kestine, John Spillane, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Brian Deady and more. Check out the Culture Night website for the full Culture Night Late programme.
Maureen Kennelly, Director of the Arts Council said, “Culture Night 2022 offers something for every cultural taste and interest. There are over 1,700 events across the country to choose from, ranging from arts and cultural organisations, community groups, heritage and visitor attractions, businesses and healthcare settings. The diversity of the programme is testament to the diversity of the organisers and the volunteers who make it happen. Culture Night is about open-ness, discovery, surprise and joy and I encourage everyone to come out and enjoy the night, including this year’s new Culture Night Late events.”
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. The Arts Council also presents a special online event with Laureate na nÓg Áine Ní Ghlinn and illustrator Andrew Whitson. Ag Buzzáil Leis An Laureate is a fun poetry and drawing event inspired by the buzzing of bees. Learn to draw Billí Beach, find out what ‘méiríní púca’ are, and write your own version of the busy, buzzy poem at this bilingual event in English and Irish that’s suitable for ages 8 to 12 at home, in school, at after school groups or libraries.
Other new additions to the programme include The Post Box Project & Exhibition at The Red Door Gallery in Limerick’s Newcastle West where visitors can enjoy works created by young people for a street art exhibition; at Galway Arts Centre, enjoy Array Collective in Conversation for what promises to be a lively chat and Q&A about their Turner Prize-winning work The Druthaib’s Ball currently on exhibit in the there; in Mayo tune in to A Good Molly, from the Traveller and Gypsy Radio and Podcast team who have produced an hour long programme, Talking Culture, featuring interviews with artist Leanne McDonagh, rapper William Casey, flower maker Winnie McDonagh and writer Oein DeBhairduin; fans of the ukelele will enjoy the tunes of Gorey Ukes who’ll be playing on the Wexford town’s Main Street; come along to Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair in Donegal for an evening with Brí Carr and friends where she’ll showcase her new songs as Gaeilge and as Béarla, which were inspired by the islands of Tory, Gola and Arranmore; for a little more noise head along to Big Bang Drumming at the Tipperary Museum of Hidden History for a Culture Night workshop which includes drumming rhythms and patterns, body percussion, the rumble and more; and at Open Studio at Laois Arthouse meet artist Emily Miller as she talks through her practice, processes and influences; or in Cork take part in a tour of the Lord Mayor’s Chambers and Council Chambers where you’ll see artifacts, gifts and art works, both ancient and modern, which form part of the life and traditions of the First Citizen of Cork; while in Mullingar Westmeath Energy Plus Dancers’ performance will wow with song and dance, including ballet, tap, modern, contemporary, hip hop and musical theatre.
RTÉ celebrates its partnership with Culture Night with specially commissioned programming, content and reports across television, radio, and online platforms. Live from the edge of Lough Boora in County Offaly, RTÉ brings a very special Culture Night celebration of Ireland’s unique boglands to the heart of the midlands, presented by Annie Mac and featuring the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the programme will showcase a range of special guests, including Offaly’s own Tolϋ Makay, Felispeaks, Damien Dempsey, Jack O’Rourke, Martin Hayes, Elaine Mai, Maykay, Loah, Ailbhe Reddy & Sinead White. Arena on RTÉ Radio 1 curls up with Read Mór and a panel of bibliophiles who will share the joy of reading, delving into works of fiction, poetry and non-fiction on the subject of train and bus travel. Elsewhere enjoy Culture Night celebrations on RTÉ lyric fm with Marty in the Morning and Lorcan Murray’s Classic Drive, and RTE.ie/Culture will stream the acclaimed play Looking For America.
Celebrating the values of Openness, Discovery, Celebration & Belonging, all activities on Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir 2022 are FREE. A broad expanse of people, organisations and venues help make it happen each year including artists, performing groups, galleries, museums, sports clubs, libraries, arts centres, craft workers, studios and workshops, theatres, schools, community groups, local authorities, government departments, state agencies and public bodies, transport companies, universities, shops and many more.
For more information on Culture Night, check out www.culturenight.ie or join the conversation on social media channels at Culture Night Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok.
←Return to the news