Something for everyone on Culture Night 2018

It may be called Culture ‘Night’ but it starts in Mullingar Arts Centre at 10.30am when Mullingar Student Players perform their latest production, an adaptation of the Louisa May Alcott’s 19th century novel, Little Women.

As you would expect in a town with Mullingar’s rich heritage, music and dance will figure prominently on Culture Night.

Market Square will be place to be in the early evening when the young members of Elevate Dance Studio perform at 5.30pm, followed by Mullingar Town Band at 6pm. (Continues below image.)

Members of Elevate Dance Studio.

At 6.30pm Energy Plus School of Dance will take to the Square to showcase the talent of their students (the performances in the Market Square are weather dependent).

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Performers at Energy Plus School of Dance.

Áras an Mhuilinn will host an evening of traditional music featuring local musicians and members of Glasgow CCÉ (8pm).

If you want your Culture Night to be a bit more active, local historian Ruth Illingworth will be giving a number of tours throughout the day.

At 3pm, she will be giving a tour of the artwork in Mullingar Cathedral, while at 5.30pm she will be giving a walking tour of Mullingar’s public art works starting at the arts centre.

Ruth will round of her day with a tour of the museum at The Greville Arms Hotel at 9pm.

Belvedere House will also host two free guided tours, Belvedere by Day (4pm) and Belvedere by Night (6pm).

For those of an artistic bent, Crane Art Studio on Mary Street is hosting a number of workshops. Painting on Fabric starts at 4pm, while a workshop on the ancient painting technique of encaustic art is at 7pm.

The are a number of events also taking place in towns and villages around the county.

Ballynacargy

The local CCÉ branch will celebrate Culture Night with an evening of music, song, dance and stories as well as 1916 Centenary Celebrations in Teach Ceol at 8pm. Castlepollard: start off the day by dropping in to the library and checking out the entries to Castlepollard Writers Group competition and pop over to Hotel Castlepollard for open mic of poetry and short story telling (7pm).

Fore - POSTPONED TO HALLOWEEN
‘Jailbreak’ - this is a wonderful puzzle for all the family to solve. Can you escape the medieval jail in Fore and reach freedom before evil Henry VIII and his minions catch up with you. Engage characters all along the 3km trail and solve clues to progress. Can you reach the finish line?

Collinstown

Paper dolls workshop with Teresa Doyle (book your place by contacting Teresa 087 6421148).

Kilbeggan

The local Men’s Shed are displaying their work in the library; and the library will host a performance from local musicians (4pm).

Rochfortbridge

In the parish hall, the Emerald Lakes Academy of Dance are hosting an evening of Irish music, song and dance (7.30pm).

Moate

In Moate, there will be free admission to Dún na Sí Heritage Park (2-4pm). Artist Dolores Keaveney will oversee a monster doodle (4-5pm) at Moate Library, while Rosemount NS pupils will bring to live their own amazing stories, designs and decorations (4-7pm) in the library.
In Tuar Ard, Dominique Foley will facilitate the creation of community art work, entitled Moate Community Art Project. People of all ages and ability are invited to participate from 11am to 7pm.
Drop in to Moate Library and join in the Monster Doddle or witness ’A Raree Show in Tuar Ard Arts Centre and be part of a community art project facilitated by Dominique Foley. Enjoy free admission to Dun na Si Heritage Park.

Athlone

Art lovers have the chance to see a wide range of exhibitions: the Abbey Road Studios and Luan Gallery. Music lovers will also have the chance to hear the Athlone Youth Orchestra performing in the Civic Buildings, Athlone (6-7pm). The Poetic Note are performing in Athlone Library and Athlone pipe band and army band are performing in Athlone Castle (free admission). There is a walking tour of John Broderick’s Athlone with Annemarie Ni Churreain and Gearoid O’Brien commencing from Prince of Wales.

For a full run down of all the events taking place around Westmeath on Culture Night go to: culturenight.ie/events/westmeath/.