Culture Night will take place tonight in 20 cities and towns across Ireland tonight, with hundreds of arts and cultural organisations offering free events, exhibitions, tours, talks and performances until late. BRIAN O'CONNELLselects some of the events on offer and speaks to some of the people making it happen

Culture Night

Kerry

The elegant drawing room of Muckross House in Killarney is the setting for a concert of romantic chamber music tonight, by the Terra Omnis chamber ensemble.

Featured works include Beethoven, Arthur O’Leary, Mozart, Schubert as well as Irish folk songs. Begins 8pm, tickets on first come, first served basis. See culturekerry.com or call 064-6670144

Roscommon

A five-hour marathon of choral and instrumental classical music begins at 5.30pm in St. Coman’s Church of Ireland in Roscommon town this evening. Featuring European composers, performers include vocal quartet Acceso, organist Sean Hanily, cellist Donal Wallace and soprano Katie Maher. No booking needed. Call 087-7782398.

Wexford

The well-travelled Ballindaggin Pipe Band march from Selskar Square to South Main Street from 5.30pm to 6.30pm this evening. The band, which has been playing for more than 60 years, led the New York St Patrick’s parade in 2007. See culturenight.ie

Cork

The Unitarian Church hosts a showcase of the best of contemporary Cork music from funk to blues punk to lo-fi. Beginning at 6pm and running until 2am, there will be one act every hour, on the hour. For more see corkrehearsalstudios.com or call 087-2921417

Dublin

Na Píobairí Uilleann is the home of Dublin piping and tonight tours of the renovated Georgian headquarters on Henrietta Street run from 6pm until 10pm.

There will also be a series of recitals, beginning at 6.30pm. No booking needed. See pipers.ie

Culture Night

Sligo

The Kids’ Own Travelling Library, the first library in Ireland that houses books made exclusively by children, will be open from 7pm to 9pm this evening on Stephen Street. Children will be able to read books and also make their own. Call 071-9124945

Wexford

Wexford’s historic Bullring comes alive this evening with activities aimed mainly at children, including facepainting, puppet shoes, clowns, samba drumming, art workshops, and street theatre from Buí­ Bolg. The events run from 5.30pm to 7.30pm

Cork

The Glucksman Gallery is offering workshops this evening from 5pm. Participants can create their own album covers and enjoy informal tours of the current show, Mixtapes: Contemporary Art in Popular Music.

There will also be a visual quiz, where answers are to be found somewhere in the gallery, as well as music related to the exhibition. See glucksman.org

Galway

Blue Teapot Theatre will be performing scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream from 7pm to 8pm tonight at Silke’s off Munster Avenue, while later in the evening (9-11pm), there is international storytelling. Refreshments provided. blueteapot.ie

Dublin

A fun hour at the National Concert Hall begins at 7pm, where participants will learn to play the anklung (an Indonesian musical instrument). They will also create group compositions. No musical experience necessary. Suitable for children aged three and up. Runs until 10pm. See nch.ie or call 01-4170077

Culture Night

Limerick

Enjoy guided tours of the French Connection exhibition, a collection of work by Irish artists with links to France, at the Hunt Museum from 5.30pm to 9.30pm. There will also be a musical recital, children’s art and costume workshops. See huntmuseum.com or call 061-312833

Athy

Athy Library is dedicating a room opening this evening to the work of photographer John Minihan, including poignant images of Mickey Rourke and Samuel Beckett. Minihan will also present an illustrated lecture on his work at 7pm in the library. Call 059-8631144

Donegal

Two photographic exhibitions will be on display at the Donegal Travellers Project Offices, both of which will feature works by members of the Traveller community including Aggie Boyle, Rose Ward and Bernie Boyle. Running from 6pm to 10pm. For more details call 074-9129281

Clare

Mick O’Dea: Black & Tan, an exhibition of portraits re-imagined through old photographs using charcoal and Indian textured paper, shows at Glór Irish Music Centre from 10am to 5pm. At 4pm tomorrow, the artist will give a talk on his work. See glor.ie or 065-6843103.

Culture Night

North Donegal

Exhibition

A photographic exhibition entitled The N56 from the Air by Declan Doherty takes place this evening at 8pm in An Gailearaí­ in Falcarragh.

This will be followed by work from installation artist Bill Viola. See angailearai.com or call 074-916 5594.

Galway

Theatre

Award-winning puppet theatre company Fíbín presents a public rehearsal of its new show from 4pm to 5.30pm at Seanscoil Sailearna in Indreabhán. See fibin.com or call 091-505855.

Artist talk

Artists and crafts people will open their galleries and studios to the public Between 5pm and 10pm this evening at Ceardlann in An Spidéal. Renowned sculptor Julian Checkley will give a talk on special effects creatures and costumes for film. Call 091-504840.

Kerry

Music

There will be a range of arts events from 8pm to 11pm tonight at Lab na Mainistreach An Daingean, including drama, poetry, singing and music provided by the Cúilín Quartet, Cafe du Jazz and friends. See ealain.ie

Cork

Film and food

A talk by local artist/musician Gearóid Ó Duinnín will be held from 5pm to 6pm in the Ionad Cultúrtha in Ballyvourney. The talk will cover Ó Duinnín’s exhibition, daichead, and will be followed by short film screenings featuring the work of Ger Wolfe and Bess Cronin. Local produce will also be on offer from 8pm to 9pm free of charge. See ionadculturtha.ie or call 026-45733

For book lovers

WITH DUBLIN having recently been recognised as a Unesco City of Literature, Culture Night has introduced a free programme of events in celebration.

While many of the venues have been involved in the night in previous years, you could spend tonight in Dublin just wandering between literary events, readings and exhibitions. A map on the website, culturenight.ie, has the full details.

Highlights will include Drama on Dublin's Bridges, with the James Joyce, Seán O'Casey and Samuel Beckett bridges hosting performances of work by each writer. The National Library will have tours of its excellent WB Yeats exhibition. Other outdoor events include Merrion Square and its Writers (7pm).

There are many readings, but Trinity Library's (7pm to 9pm) looks particularly tasty: Claire Kilroy, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin and Paul Murray will be among the writers present.

The wonderful Fighting Wordsoff Russell Street (across from Croke Park) is hosting free story writing workshops for adults at 6.30pm and 8pm. Its founder, Roddy Doyle, will also have a presence of sorts at 10.15pm in Meeting House Square where there will be a screening of Alan Parker's famous adaptation of The Commitments.