Ireland’s annual nocturnal cultural extravaganza, Culture Night, returns on Friday, September 22 and a number of communities in The Avondhu readership area have not been found wanting when it comes to participating.
Showcasing the vibrant arts and creative scene of towns, villages, islands and cities across the country, thousands of participants are gearing up for an evening of culture, creativity and celebration as they get ready to switch on Culture Night 2017.
Dozens of events will be taking place across County Cork on September 22, including a host of events in the Avondhu area. An Irish night with Gaeilgeoirí Chois Móire will be held in the Fermoy Community Youth Centre between 6.30pm and 10pm.
The evening will be a night of Irish language, song and stories and is supported by Oireachtas na Gaeilge, Foras na Gaeilge and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
A special performance from the Thomas Kent Pipe Band will be held outside the CYMS Hall on MacCurtain Street in Fermoy between 7.45pm and 8.30pm. In the event of bad weather the performance will take place in the hall.
The Thomas Kent Pipe Band will be performing on the back of an extremely busy year, having played a prominent part in the Easter Rising celebrations in 2016.
Also in Fermoy for Culture Night, an evening of music, song and poetry will be held in the Elbow Lane Inn from 8pm to 11pm. The night will feature members of the Fermoy Active Retirement Group, Fermoy Men’s Club and members of the Market Place Poetry and Performing Arts, as well as music by various local singers and musicians.
Glanworth Players are hosting an ‘Embracing our Culture’ night between 8.30pm and 11pm, which will feature extracts from Irish drama, song and dance. In Knockraha, a concert encompassing cabaret, storytelling, Irish dancing, traditional music and an exhibition will be held in the community hall between 8pm and 10pm.
‘Mitchelstown Miscellany’ will be held in Kingston College Chapel between 3pm and 5pm. Mitchelstown writers will read from their own work, including stories, poetry and memoir.
Also in Mitchelstown, the Mitchelstown Young Filmmakers will screen two short films made by local young filmmakers in Forrest Hall, New Square between 6.30pm and 8.30pm.
Speaking ahead of next month’s Culture Night, Heather Humphreys, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, said culture makes an invaluable contribution to our country, ‘both to our economy and to the lives and wellbeing of our citizens’.
“It is who we are and what we do. Culture Night is a night like no other on this island, helping to make our rich and varied culture more accessible to all. It has grown from strength to strength each year and 2017 promises to be bigger and better than ever.”
The programme for the 12th Culture Night is available to view on www.culturenight.ie.
