Communities gather to celebrate Culture Night
Over 100 events are taking place around Galway City and County as part of the annual Culture Night, which will be celebrated on September 20.
In Oranmore the Active in Age Group and Respond Housing Association are jointly hosting a batik workshop and film screening in the Respond Old Convent Building, while the Galway artist group Akin are displaying their work in the 15th century Oranmore Castle. Reflecting the diversity that exists in the county, Oranmore’s Afro-Renaissance group will host an intercultural dance and music event in the Maree Community Hall.
In Athenry Michael Loftus, Tom Ward and Máire Greaney Daly will be in the town’s library at 6.30pm, revisiting old poetic favourites and discovering new treats as they share the pleasure poetry gives them
At 7pm the Athenry Heritage Centre will present an evening of heritage and culture with local historian, Ronan Killeen and a film presentation from fifth class students in Athenry Boys School. Culture Night in Athenry will conclude with Concertos by Candlelight at 8pm in Athenry Castle where selected movements from popular concertos will be performed by students and staff of Athenry Music School. This promises to be an atmospheric and magical performance in a wonderful setting.
Portumna has been awarded the title of County Galway Village of Culture 2013-14 for its line up of events involving the whole community. Details of the Portumna Culture Night activities, which are taking places as part of this year’s Shorelines Festival, can be seen in the front page of the Connacht Tribune Lifestyle section.
Clarinbridge Culture Night kicks off from 3pm in the village’s parish hall, with exhibitions showcasing art, local historic pieces, craft and videos. From 4pm there will be a pop-up café, a drama group session, a history talk of the parish hall and some readings. The Galway Ensemble in Residence, ConTempo Quartet will be performing there at 9pm and Culture Night will wrap with some traditional Irish music.
West of the county some Culture Night highlights include events in Clifden and on Inishlacken and Inisbofin Islands.
Weather permitting, members of the public are invited to a day on Inishlacken Island from 2pm where there will be an exhibition featuring the work of the Inishlacken Project artists in residence. Soul landscape/Presiding Spirits includes work by Mick O'Dea, Margaret Irwin, Pearl Kinnear, Caroline Wright, Kathleen Furey, Eamon Colman, Joseph McWilliams, Catherine McWilliams, Simon McWilliams, Gavin Lavelle, Jennifer Cunningham, Helen McDonnell, Rosie McGurran, Susan McKeever, Leonie King, Deborah Watkins, Catherine Gaston, Jay Murphy and Gerard Dillon. The exhibition will open with a traditional music session and poetry reading by Belfast poet Maria McManus.
In Clifden, the Tullyvoheen Residents’ Association and St Joseph’s Court Residents Association are hosting a Culture at the Courtyard afternoon from 4-8pm in the Courtyard of the Station House Hotel (weather permitting), showcasing traditions such as music, song, dance, art, crafts and traditional crafts.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.