We can’t wait for these 10 events taking place on Culture Night

This year’s Culture Night takes place on the 18th of September

Culture Night is always a highlight of the country’s calendar, where towns and cities across Ireland bring out the big guns to entertain, educate and inspire locals and tourists alike. All around Ireland, people get out onto the street and explore their city, getting to know the nooks and crannies they never saw before, and learning something new along the way.

It’s sad to say that Culture Night, like all events, will look a little different this year, but we are delighted to see that it’s still going ahead. On the 18th September (next Friday night), Culture Night will stage a number of both online and offline events around the country. You can still get your fix of local knowledge, history and culture, with some events taking place on the streets, and some to be enjoyed from your couch.

While some of the events this year require booking, most are open to everyone, and if you’re anything like us, you should set up your itinerary early. Here are the 10 top spots that we can’t wait to attend next week.

Co. Waterford (online) – 7-9pm – Seal le Seanachaí

If you want to flex your Irish language muscles, this lovely storytelling evening with a local seanachaí (storyteller) is the perfect way to find out more about the gorgeous area of Dungarvan.

Kildare (offline) – 6:30-7:30pm – Mindful Photography Experience with ArtBeat

Finding it hard to get inspiration for your photography? Learn how to live in the moment and capture it perfectly with this mindful photography exercise. Taking place at the Naas Lakes in Kildare, the experience will take the group through a mindful walk, encouraging you to engage and capture your surroundings in a natural way.

Donegal (online) – 7-8pm – Borders and Rib Structures in Irish Knitting with Edel McBride

If you’re lusting after the Folklore cardigan trend, this great masterclass with traditional knitwear specialist and designer Edel McBride is a fantastic way to get in touch with its heritage. Learn about why these detailed edges on knitwear designs are so important to this part of our heritage, and how to do them yourself.

Wicklow (offline) – 7:30-8:30pm – An Evening of Poetry, Stories and Song with Bray Literary Festival

Hear popular Dublin-based poets Anne Tannam, Mark Ward, Fióna Bolger and Grace Wilentz mounting a lively verse round-robin, with music from singer/songwriter BeRn. Numbers are limited but it will also be streamed online if you can’t make it along.

Dublin (online) – 8-9pm – Virtual Whiskey Lock-In with the Irish Whiskey Museum

Stock up on your favourite top-shelf whiskey and settle in for a virtual lock-in with the Irish Whiskey Museum. You and other whiskey lovers can listen in as the expert guide moves through the history of Irish whiskey and explains the different varieties.

Cork (offline) – 8-9pm – Kinsale Twilight Walking Tour with Cork Arts Service Writer in Residence Matthew Geden 

An evening stroll around Kinsale sounds perfect enough, but this Culture Night event elevates it to another level, including historical stories and anecdotes alongside poems and stories from some of the writers who have lived in the area.

Dublin (offline) – 8-10:30pm – The Live Drawing Project: Ireland and France

This fabulous idea is a collaboration between the French Embassy in Ireland and the Irish Cultural Centre in Paris. Video-projected imagery will appear on the walls of the National Gallery, with attendees in Dublin, France and at home encouraged to use their phone as a drawing pad.

Mayo (offline) – 6-6:30pm – Noga Yoga in Castlebar

Fancy an outdoor yoga session to end your week on a high? This short and beautiful session will be led by Noreen O’Grady in the garden of the Noga Yoga Studio.

Dublin (offline) – 4-8:30pm – Culture Night at the NLI

The National Library is always a treat to visit, and their Culture Night plans are particularly interesting. This year, the focus is on the William Butler Yeats exhibition, on the man and his interests, and his impact on Irish society. Visits are restricted to 30 minutes each but that’s plenty of time to get a feel for the exhibition.

Galway (online) – 5-5:30pm – Irish Dancing Masterclass with the Gardiner Brothers

If you recognise these lads from TikTok, you’ll know they’re some of the most skilled Irish dancers in the country right now. Michael and Matthew Gardiner are the 2020 Connacht Culture Night Trailblazers and are hosting this quick masterclass for you to dance along with them.

Feature image: Liam Karma

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