Culture Night is one of the biggest nights in the Arts calendar, we take a look at what’s happening in the Midlands this year.
OFFALY are be central to RTÉ’s Culture Night special. They broadcast live from Lough Boora Discovery Park on RTÉ One. The RTÉ Concert Orchestra and a selection of guest artists perform. Tullamore singer Tolü Makay, who covered The Saw Doctors N17 with the RTE Orchestra headlines the event, in an exciting collaboration between Offaly Arts Office and Music Generation Offaly Westmeath.
Also in Offaly, at the Acorn Project, Edenderry, ‘Neart Fir | Strength Of Men’ – celebrates the mental strength of men with an evening of song, verse, film and readings. Award-winning playwright Eugene O’Brien headlines the event with a reading and observations on the theme.
If Musicals are your thing, go to Friends Meeting House, Clara. Clara Musical Society invite audiences to join in and sing along with some favourite hits from well-known musicals with the lyrics projected behind the live performers.
In LAOIS, the launch of a Street Mural by James Kirwan Art celebrating Ireland’s threatened Common Swift takes place in Mountmellick Community School. Mountmellick is a stronghold for this species. Event supported by Creative Ireland Laois in partnership with Laois Heritage Office and BirdWatch Ireland.
In the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Dunamaise Young Curators & Laois African Support Group present song, dance, spoken word, art and delectable treats to share together in this celebration of our vibrant contemporary Culture!
In Clonaslee there is a foraging walk. If you’re interested in plants, or wild food, Mary Bulfin, foraging facilitator and Heather Rice, photographer, invite you to join them as they share their knowledge and interest in wild plants. The event includes a guided walk starting in Brittas Wood, to find and identify edible plants, plants with medicinal or other properties such as natural dye or fibre sources.
In WESTMEATH, still fresh from memories of the Fleadh Cheoil, Fox’s pub Loughanavally will host a trad session featuring musicians range from mid-teens to mid-90’s and incredible voices bringing back old songs with a few classic guitar sing-alongs too.
In Athlone Library, you can catch Athlone Acappella, an all-female chorus who sing 4-part close harmony. They are the current National Female Chorus champions having won the title 4 times!
In Castlepollard Library, Masha Golubieva, a refugee in Ireland from the war in Ukraine explores the global span of war and the scaled down effect it has on the individual.
In LONGFORD, if you like Bob Dylan, The Bottleneck Bar, Townparks, Longford, is the place to be! Performance Artist Shane Kennedy, pays tribute to Dylan, his work and all the artists he’s inspired through Song, Poetry and Visual Art as part of Culture Night 2022.
In Granard, Phil Atkinson – one of Ireland’s leading airbrush and street artists responsible for many of the beautiful murals that adorn the walls of many towns and villages around the county – will open up his work space. Phil is opening his new studio to local schools and residents for a meet and greet.
Just a selection of the packed calendar of events taking place for Culture Night 2022 across the Midlands
