Plethora of events for Culture Night
A host of events will take place across Offaly to celebrate Culture Night which takes place on Friday, September 23.
Offaly County Council is inviting people to experience 'One Night For All', where artists and venues will open doors and minds through a programme of free entertainment as part of the national celebration of arts and culture. Offaly Culture Night offers communities, artists and venues the opportunity to connect through music, dance, visual art and much more with an eclectic range of events guaranteed to appeal to our rich and varied communities across the county.
JJ Hough's pub in Banagher will host an evening of artists' film, paintings, music and discussion around the subject of Offaly's peat boglands and their relationship to climate change and ecological collapse. It will be presented by professional artists Sheila Hough and Patrick Hough on September 23 at 9pm.
Patrick Hough’s film, which premiered at Galway Film Fleadh in 2021, focuses on an archaeologist sent to excavate the remains of a bog body, an Iron Age bog body naturally preserved in Ireland’s peat bog lands. The evening will also see an exhibition of bog paintings by Sheila Hough, whose work uses the bog as a way of thinking through important sets of concerns Genre-bending, high-energy folk outfit Bog Bodies will entertain into the night with their unique “druid rock” sound, inspired by visits to megalithic tombs and other ancient sites. Commission funded by Offaly County Council Arts Office.
Artist Rosemarie Langtry together with Belmont Ladies Group will present an art exhibition and demonstration of encaustic art at High Street Community Hall, Belmont from 7pm to 9pm. The group will exhibit artwork from their 2021 Creative Ireland funded project ・Connecting to the Past・, while the artist will host a talk on her methodology and carry out an encaustic art demonstration.
A fantastic photography workshop will be provided by James Crombie which focuses on the use of evening light will take place in the Birr Theatre and Arts Centre from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. This workshop comes at the end of the PPAI (Press Photographer・s Association of Ireland) 2022 exhibition, taking place in September which will offer inspiration to participants in advance of the workshop. For booking visit www.birrtheatre.com or call the the box office on 057 9122911.
Clara Music Society will host a Karaoke style 'Night At The Musicals at the Friends Meeting House at 8pm. For over fifty years the Clara Musical Society have been bringing quality entertainment and national award winning productions to audiences in the midlands. They are delighted to return to Culture Night with an interactive fun way to enjoy musical theatre. The audience are invited to join in and sing along with some favourite hits from well-known musicals with the lyrics projected behind the live performers. There are limited numbers so to book email claramusicalsociety@gmail.com.
Creative Edenderry will hold 'Cultures of Edenderry', a special evening celebrating the diverse cultures and nationalities of Edenderry and surrounding areas in St Mary’s Primary School It will provide an opportunity for locals to both showcase and sample some of the distinct cultural activities and produce from across the country. To book email creativeedenderry@gmail.com.
An evening celebrating the mental strength of men through song, verse, film and readings wll take place in Acorn Youth Cafe・at 8pm. Award-winning playwright and screenwriter of Pure Mule Eugene O’Brien will headline the event with a reading and observations on the theme following the publication of his first novel earlier this month. Attendees will also enjoy a short film made by The Acorn Youth Project and live music from upcoming singer-songwriter John Gorman.
An event hosted by Rahan Comhaltas will take place in Charleville Castle at 8pm. Rahan Comhaltas will invite an incredibly diverse variety of multicultural and creative acts to perform. The evening will feature Indian classical dance troupe Noopura Naada, followed by more of fantastic Irish dance, song and storytelling. In order to book email info@shakefest.net.
Tullamore’s newest art space at Split Space Art Joint, 44 Church Street plays host to a Beady Pocket exhibition by members of Offaly Traveller Movement. Beady Pockets・ had huge significance within the Traveller community, particularly for the older generation. Traditionally, the pockets would be handsewn and decorated with buttons, colourful threads and holy medals and passed from mother to daughter. Inspired by her own grandmother, Offaly-based artist Francesca Hutchinson began researching Beady Pockets as part of her degree in Fine Arts. Francesca recently hosted a special workshop for Offaly Traveller Movement, where 20 participants joined her to learn about and create their own Beady Pockets.
The workshop was filmed by Red Shoe Productions, and forms part of TG4's upcoming arts series ‘Imeall’. Visitors can experience the beautiful handcrafted pockets on display, while a short film of the workshop will be on upstairs in the gallery.Culture Night takes place on September 23.