Culture Night 2024: Dozens of free events revealed for Cork City
Cork Lord Mayor Cllr Dan Boyle with members of the Cork Light Orchestra launching Culture Night, in Cork Gaol. Picture: Darragh Kane
Culture Night returns for yet another year of creativity and the arts, with plenty of events planned for Cork and the rest of the country.
Friday, September 20, will see doors to popular attractions open later and special events held across the city, all free of charge.
Lord Mayor of Cork, Dan Boyle said: “Cork has a rich and varied culture which we can celebrate with pride on Culture Night, September 20th. With about eighty venues there is no end of choice, with a variety of events to be enjoyed free for all the family. The only downside is we can't be everywhere at once. Enjoy Cork's culture. Be a part of it.”
Here are some of Cork-based events to keep an eye out for.
University College Cork will host a series of events on the main campus, as well as the nearby Granary Theatre and the Confucius Centre. Hosted both indoor and out, there will be an event for everyone – whether you’re looking for family-friendly fun or something for the grown-ups.
From choral performances to readings from Cork stories and performance from Irene Kelleher, the library will host a selection of events. Jimmy Crowley and Eve Telford will also be singing a selection of Cork songs.
Camp culture is coming to MacCurtain Street with Mockie Ah!’s Culture Night Cabaret. The event will celebrate the best of queer Irish performers from across the country.
The stars behind viral sensation The Spark will host an event for kids of all ages with music jams, workshops and a seisúin ceol. Certainly not to be missed if their festival performances this summer are anything to go by.
As always, Cork City Council will host a range of events here including a six-a-side football matches and chamber music in the concert hall. Sure, who wouldn’t want to play ball in the city hall?
- See the full programme on corkcity.ie/culturenight
There are also hundreds of events taking place in other parts of the country. Here's a sample:
This popular tattoo shop ibn Dublin’s Temple Bar and Creative Quarter will give guests an inside look into the world of tattooing, from the skills required to the techniques. Those in attendance can even try their hand at some tattooing, though it will be on a banana, rather than another human. Little ones – and those who fancy some new ink – can also get involved with a temporary tattoo station.
The Dead Interesting tour of this famous graveyard will bring guests around the hidden depths of the area and share the stories held within the walls. This event will certainly get you into the spooky season mood.
The “devilishy handsome Italian Kerryman” – their words, not ours – Guido Fanzini will present a show filled with comedy and fun in his spoof danger/comedy circus show on the grounds of Killarney House and Gardens.
A worthwhile trip in itself, the Aran Islands is also taking part in Culture Night with a playful and immersive experience. The description of this event speaks for itself: “the merfolk sip seaweed tea inside eerie underwater buildings, Seagull-John cooks white birds over trash fires, and dreams from the future explore loss, rainbows, and sorrow in a liminal space gone awry with climate chaos. The magician (Ali Keohane) brings the audiences onto Hy-Brasil, the mythical disappearing island, while they walk around listening to stories told by actors Mikel Murfi, Jenni Nikinmaa & Tonya Lenhart.”
A pop-up socially engaged game will appear on the Square of Tuam, Galway, which will engage guests through quiz-style conversations and get the creative juices flowing. The hosts will be teenagers from the town, who will create an unexpected happening designed to slow the general public down and operating a space for connection.
See all the events taking place in Cork city on Culture Night on culturenight.ie
