Cultured Cork to put forward its best foot

Cork city and county are set for a feast of cultural delights in September when they put on a smorgasbord of events for Culture Night. On Friday 21 September there will be a slew of different events taking place from Youghal all the way to the Beara Peninsula.

Among the highlights will be a special, intimate performance from the actress and singer Maria Doyle Kennedy in a gallery in Castletownbere and the chance for anyone to draw or paint in a famous art gallery!

Maria Doyle Kennedy has acted in ‘The Tudors’, ‘Downton Abbey’, as well as ‘The Commitments’ but her singing allows her to return to her first love. She will sing at the Sarah Walker Gallery in Castletownbere. There will be hundreds of events taking place and they will all be free. For details on exactly what is taking place, check www.culturenight.ie.

The national launch of Culture Night took place in Cork yesterday. Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan TD said: “It’s a pleasure to be in in Cork City Hall for the launch of Culture Night 2012. Culture is an integral part of our social DNA in Ireland and this event serves to highlight the importance and strength of our cultural institutions. Our thriving creative sector has made this country one of the most sought after cultural destinations in the world."

In Cork city, film studios, libraries, galleries, theatres, churches and cultural institutions will open their doors in what is expected to be the biggest Culture Night to date, with more than 83 venues across Cork city taking part.  

In Cork City, the Lewis Glucksman Gallery itself will transform into an enormous sketchbook. Visitors will be able to draw on floors, walls and even bodies making the gallery a canvas. For music lovers, the Lee Sessions will provide visitors with a traditional Irish music journey across the city.

Dance enthuasists can enjoy breakdancing at Ireland’s only hip hop studio Flava Floors, while children are sure to be delighted when Sorcaluba perform their aerial show in Cork’s Millenium Hall. Cork’s Concert Hall will be tranformed into a cinema and will show screenings of films throughout the day with movies to suit all ages.  

Other highlights include a special craft market in Cork County Hall featuring a selection of fine Irish crafts from around the country in glass, ceramics, jewellery and more. 

There will be a unique dance performance from contemporary dance company Croí Glan in Cork County Library Headquarters. 

Visitors to the Cork County Library Collections will get an opportunity to view rarely seen items including maps, rare books, newspapers and archival material. There will also be special material recording street games of the past, both nationally and in Cork.

An evening of open air platform dancing will take place at the Ó Neill Monument in Bantry, harking back to times gone by. Levis' Bar in Ballydehob will host an evening of sea shanties and international folk.

For full details pick up a brochure in your local library or arts centre or visit www.culturenight.ie.