THE MINISTER for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan, has predicted attendance numbers of more than 300,000 at events for this year’s Culture Night, due to take place on Friday, September 21st.
“Culture Night has been in place since 2006 . . . it began as [a] little event in Temple Bar in Dublin but it’s grown dramatically and is now an all-Ireland event,” the Minister said yesterday.
“Last year it attracted 300,000 people and I would hope this year it would increase on that.”
Mr Deenihan was speaking at Cork City Hall where he unveiled details of this year’s programme. It will see cultural and artistic events at some 900 venues in 34 areas, from Belfast and Derry down to Cork and Kerry.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of Culture Night for me is seeing how people have responded to the . . . opening up of the various cultural institutions and venues. And last year for me it was great to see families enjoying culture together,” he said.
Events planned include: a reading by author Cathy Kelly at Greystones library; 18 voluntary groups participating in a marathon 26-hour reading of James Joyce’s Ulysses at the Source Arts Centre in Tipperary; the transformation of the Lewis Glucksman Gallery at University College Cork into an enormous sketchbook; free recording sessions at Platform4 audio and digital media studio in Kildare; and dancer Andrew Duggan, choreographer Rionach Ní Neill and musician Ronan Ó Snodaigh combining to create a new work based on their responses to paintings from the National Gallery’s collection.
The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is providing €200,000 towards Culture Night, but Mr Deenihan paid tribute to the thousands of volunteers and staff who ensured it continued to be a success.
Dermot McLaughlin, chief executive of Temple Bar Cultural Trust, said he hoped the event would make people aware of the cultural and artistic institutions in their area and encourage them to visit on a regular basis.
“People talk about getting their five-a-day in terms of fruit and veg, but what I would like to see is that, as a result of Culture Night, people would be keen to get their three or four a month in terms of cultural and arts events,” he said.
For more visit culturenight.ie.
What To See
Dublin
Snigger away at Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman’s risible Oirish accents at an open-air screening by the Irish Film Institute of Far and Away in Meeting House Square, Temple Bar.
Take a tour of the historic surrounds of Leinster House, complete with access to the Dáil and Seanad debating chambers and committee rooms.
Tipperary
Enjoy a marathon 26-hour reading of James Joyce’s epic Ulysses at the Source Arts Centre.
Cork
Draw on everything from easels to the floor to actual people as the Glucksman gallery is transformed into an enormous live sketchbook.
Meet Red Riding Hood and friends for storytelling and facepainting at Everyman Palace Theatre, before taking a back-stage peek around the Victorian building.
Galway
Relive your youth at the retro gaming science fiction event in NUI Galway by playing arcade classics such as Pacman, Asteroids and Space Invaders on vintage consoles and computers such as Atari, Amiga, Sega Mega Drive and Sinclair ZX81.
Kildare
Avail of free recording sessions for budding musicians at Platform4 audio and digital media studio.
Wicklow
Author Cathy Kelly will be doing a reading and question-and-answer session at Greystones library.