Family Events at Culture Night 2019

Culture Night and Great Family Events!

Culture Night is taking place this Friday 20^th September with loads of theatres, museums, libraries, galleries and more across the country throwing open their doors to the public.  There are loads of great venues and public spaces taking part in the arts, heritage and culture event across the island of Ireland.  We’ve picked out a few family friendly events that you might want to check out!

RTÉ Open Air Concert on Clarke Square, Dublin

The National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Dublin 7, is delighted to once more be hosting RTÉ’s flagship Culture Night event.

Historic Clarke Square at Collins Barracks will light up in style as RTÉ presents an evening of free live family entertainment from 7.30pm to 10pm, featuring an exciting mix of live music, spoken word, dance and performances.

The line-up features both established and emerging Irish artists, and special guests, in the company of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

Highlights on the night include:

• The RTÉ Concert Orchestra from 7.30pm, starting with a mix of popular classics. They will be joined by special guests from 8pm.
• A show-opener of singers, dancers and choirs performing a Beatles/ Queen Medley
• Live performance from RTÉ Choice Music Prize nominee – Jafaris
• A spoken word and orchestral performance of ‘What A Wonderful World’
• Live performance by the Kilfenora Céilí Band with dancers
• ‘Óró sé do bheatha ‘bhaile’, performed by Irish vocalists Síle Denvir, Pauline Scanlon, Sibéal Ní Chasaide and Nicola Joyce
• Live performances from leading Irish female voices, opera singer Celine Byrne, followed by musician, Wallis Bird
• Aslan joining the RTÉ Concert Orchestra to bring the house down

Bat Conservation Ireland at the National Museum of Ireland – Natural History, Dublin

Drop into the Wonder Cabinet between the opening hours of 6.30 to 8.30pm, to learn fact from fiction about these night-time navigators. Hang out with the team from Kildare Bat Group and learn all about Ireland’s native bats. No booking required but there may be short waiting time.  This promises to be great free late night entertainment and family fun! Partially wheelchair accessible.

Time: 5pm – 9pm

Treasure Hunt in Georgian Dublin

The Georgian period was Dublin’s architectural high-point. A “detective trail” promises “different perspectives” on some of the capital’s most storied neighbourhoods.  A family event that will entertain everyone!

Time: 4.30pm-7pm

Venue: Instituto Cervantes, Lincoln Place, D2

Baby Culture Night, Sligo

The Model contemporary arts centre and Hawk’s Well Theatre come together with events for infants from six months and above. Older children are catered for too. The organisers promise “an afternoon of light and colour on the theme of climate change” at The Model. At Hawk’s Well, there will be performances of A Box – “physical theatre… for the very young”.

Time: Opening hours 4pm-7pm

Venue: The Mall, Sligo.

Around the World in Eighty Games, Cork

It starts with a tour of the 100th anniversary exhibition of the International Astronomical Union and a talk by Paul Callanan of the UCC Department of Physics. City’s Hall’s performance space will meanwhile house a celebration of gaming, including physical play, street games, board games and card games, all curated by interactive event group ThinkSpeakDo.

Time: 4.30pm-9.30pm

Venue: City Hall, Cork

Woodland Fairy Workshop, Louth

Fairy fun with artist Rozzi Kennedy, who opens her workshop as kids design their own bespoke Tinker Bell with leaves, handmade stickers, card, washi tape and feathers.

Time: 7pm-7.45pm (ages 4-7)

Time: 8pm-8.45pm (8-12)

Venue: An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk

Postcard to a Whale, Kildare

This Irish language event will feature stories about the sea and the opportunity to craft a postcard – “a suitable size to send to a whale”.

Time: 6pm-8pm

Venue: Rathangan Community Library, Kildare

Faerie Dances at Claregalway Castle, Galway

More fairy – sorry, “faerie” fun – this time with the dancers of Youth Ballet West. The performers take inspiration from WB Yeats and his observation that: “Faeries come, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame.”  This family event is sure to fire the imagination!

Time: 6pm-8pm

Venue: Claregalway Castle, Galway

Homemade Paint Workshop, Leitrim

Artist Kate Murtagh Sheridan will show kids – and parents – how to make and use their own toxin-free paints.

Time: Opening hours 4pm-5.30pm

Venue: Leitrim Design House, Carrick On Shannon, Leitrim

Showcase Abbeyleix by McCormick Puppets, Laois

Award-winning puppeteer Julie-Rose McCormick has been performing for the past 30 years and has worked with the Abbey, the Project and The Ark. She will showcase some of her best-known characters at this unique family event performance.

Time: 6pm-7.30pm

Venue: Heritage House, Abbeyleix

Science Tour, Birr Castle, Offaly

All seven galleries of Birr Castle Science Centre throw open their doors. Buckle up for a “journey through an extraordinary time of great discovery and innovation”.

Time: 6pm-7.30pm

Venue: Birr Castle

Pigtown Parade, Limerick

The city’s butchers and brass bands team up. Puppets, street performers and “real life piglets” are promised. Kids can make their own masks or have their faces painted.  This is sure to delight those in Limerick city and county!

Time: 7pm-8pm

Venue: Limerick city centre, starting at Bedford Row

Culture Night Tours at GAA Museum, Croke Park, Dublin

The GAA Museum will once again open its doors for Culture Night 2019. What better way to enjoy the magic of Croke Park than by experiencing Ireland’s largest and most historic stadium under lights!

Guided Tours of Croke Park will begin every 15 minutes from opening hours 5pm to 9pm on Friday 20th September. This is a free event but due to popularity, pre-registration is required online. Please book your tickets with the link below.

Discover Fota Tour, Cork

Step back in time at Fota House this Culture Night and meet the people who lived and worked at the property. Find out what made John Smith Barry ‘Magnificent’; meet Patty Butler, Fota’s last staff member; and find out why the Butler, Mr Russell, could never be mistaken for a gentleman.

House Tours 4PM, 5PM and 6PM. To secure your place on Culture Night tours, please call Tanya on 021 4815543

Time: Opening hours 4pm – 7pm

 Culture Night at Belvedere House Gardens and Park, Westmeath

Enjoy free tours at Belvedere House, Gardens and Park on Friday 20th September to celebrate Culture Night:

Belvedere by Day

Time: 4-5.30pm – Free guided tour of Belvedere Parkland and Follies

6-8pm – Free guided tour of Belvedere House and its hidden histories!

Culture Night at Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny

Enjoy the National Football Exhibition, Exhibitions – ‘When I Was a Child’ & ‘Donegal’s Atlantic Way’, Screening ‘An Artist’s Work is Never Done’, & Kids & Craft Drive-in Movie at the RCC in Letterkenny for Culture Night 2019.

• Upstairs in Gallery 1, the National Football Exhibition is made up of six zones, each designed to give you an overview of the various different aspects of football in Ireland. Visitors can explore memorabilia displays, interactive stations with videos, quizzes and an opportunity to step up to the mic and record your own commentary!
• The Upstairs Foyer presents the Exhibition – ‘When I Was a Child’. Following on from the highly successful “I am Donegal” exhibition, Peadar Mc Daid invites 50 artists, photographers and writers to present work on small wooden 8”x10” panels that reflects something from their childhood – a memory, a place, a toy, a pet or a self portrait.
• Accompanying Peadars’ exhibition in WS 3 is the Screening ‘ An Artist’s Work is Never Done’. Created by Peadar & his nephew David, this short film focuses on the working lives of a number of artists working in Donegal, offering insights into their thought process, work and surroundings.
• Downstairs Gallery 2 & Foyer is where you will find ‘Donegal’s Atlantic Way’, an exhibition by Michael Sugrue. This is a unique collection of photographs and poems capturing Donegal’s natural and rugged beauty. The pictures tell a story of the unfolding of the day from dawn to twilight and beyond.
• Workshop 1 will be turned into the Kids & Craft Drive-in Movie from 6pm – 8pm . Families are invited to drop in and build their very own car for our Culture Night indoor drive-in movie experience. Art facilitators will help kids to design and build a car using recycled cardboard boxes and art materials. Once your car is built it’s time to park up and enjoy a selection of short animated movies!
• Performance: The Donegal Youth Orchestra 8pm – 9pm Come along to the RCC auditorium and experience the majestic sounds of a full orchestra at an open rehearsal under the baton of conductor & composer Vincent Kennedy.

Time: 6pm – 9:30pm

This is just a selection of some of the family events sure to delight the young and the old!  For the full list and opening hours check out your local arts office and local authority or here.

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