Local dancer helps launch Offaly Culture Night
Culture Night 2023 is Friday September 22
Tyrrellspass dancer Rose Carey is performing at Charleville Castle on Culture Night, and was present for the launch of this year’s events in Offaly this week.
There is another Westmeath link as among the many events lined up is 'Through My Eyes – Offaly Down Syndrome Association Photo Exhibition'. The photos were taken by adult members of Offaly Down Syndrome Association, under the mentorship of the PPAI Press Photographer of the Year for 2021 and 2022, James Crombie.
Offaly County Council have issued information on this year’s events.
This Culture Night promises to be ‘one night for all’ as venues and public spaces across Offaly open their doors to host a programme of free entertainment for Culture Night 2023 – an island-wide celebration of arts, heritage and culture.
Now in its 13th year, Offaly Culture Night brings you a packed programme of events reflecting the eclectic cultural exuberance within the county – a great night out for you, your friends and all the family.
With a 30 per cent increase in number of events from 2022, there is a rich range of cultural treats to choose from, across the perimeters of the county, from Edenderry to Birr.
The programme of activities in Offaly is now available to download at www.offaly.ie/arts.
Arts officer, Dr Sally O’Leary of Offaly County Council said: “Culture Night 2023 in Offaly will be a night to remember, with even more events happening across the county; with artists, community groups, and venues taking part in the creation of an exciting and stimulating evening of creativity for everyone to enjoy.
“Culture Night 2023 in Offaly offers a diverse range of activities for all the community. The Arts Office is also delighted to announce the commissions awarded to five professional artists whose work range across dance, literature and the visual arts. The commissioned artists will offer presentations of their work in four locations across the county. This year will certainly be One Night For All.”
The programme was launched this week at Esker Arts, Tullamore.
Events are in Banagher, Birr, Clara, Edenderry, Kilcormac, Moneygall and Tullamore.
See the full programme of events of Offaly County Council Website: https://www.offaly.ie/occ_news/culture-night-offaly-friday-22nd-september-2023/
Highlight events include:
Tim Quinlan’s Pop-Up Portrait Studio, 4-7.30pm, Birr Technology Centre. Artist Tim Quinlan leads the live pop-up public art studio where participants will sit for a portrait drawing session. Visitors are also welcome to view and experience the process, which is as much about observing as it is about drawing or mark making. See art in motion as the artist uses charcoal on paper, creating fast-paced portraits on a large scale. The work will be hung and displayed for viewing. Commission funded by Offaly County Council Arts Office.
No booking required; Family Friendly
Donlon Dance Company Presents ‘What Is Contemporary?’, 5pm, Esker Arts, Tullamore. A bespoke new piece of dance choreographed and curated by Amy Donlon alongside the company students.
What is Contemporary? aims to answer this popular question through the art of movement. Contemporary dance is an expressive style that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, Jazz, Lyrical and Classical Ballet. Throughout the creation process, the dancers will explore the connection between the mind and the body through fluid dance movements. The event will include contributions from other dance artists and community dance groups in the area. All welcome.
Commission funded by Offaly County Council Arts Office.
Family Friendly; Booking: www.eskerarts.ie
Creative Places Edenderry Presents: Cultures of Edenderry, 5-9pm, Edenderry GAA Club. You are invited to ‘Creative Community Social’ – a special evening celebrating the diverse cultures and nationalities of Edenderry and surrounding areas. Hosted by Creative Places Edenderry in Edenderry GAA, it will be an opportunity for locals to both showcase and sample some of the distinct cultural activities and produce from Ireland and around the world. Come and explore the food, fashion, music and much more that is part of our town. Everyone is welcome to come along during the evening and discover the diversity of cultural offerings in Edenderry! Interested in taking part and sharing something? Please contact: Nesrinelazaly@gmail.com
This event is supported by the Creative Places: Edenderry project funded by The Arts Council and is also part-funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
Family Friendly; Booking: Nesrinelazaly@gmail.com
Through My Eyes – Offaly Down Syndrome Association Photo Exhibition, 5.30pm, Esker Arts Foyer, Tullamore. An exhibition of photos taken by adult members of Offaly Down Syndrome Association, under the mentorship of the PPAI Press Photographer of the Year for 2021 and 2022, James Crombie. In February 2023, funding allocated by Offaly County Council under the Disability Participation Fund, gave the group the resources to hire a venue to run a week-long course, purchase digital cameras for all of the participants, and curate the work of each participant. This exhibition will include images captured by the participants, some behind the scenes footage of the project as well as observational thoughts by Photographer James Crombie.
Family Friendly; No booking required.
Eileen Casey and Jackie Lynch: Birr Town Stills Exhibition and Film, 7pm, Birr Theatre and Arts Centre. There’s always a looking back, celebrating what Birr has gifted while looking forward to the future.
Through writing and photography, poet Eileen Casey and photographer Jackie Lynch capture impressions of a town where they were born and grew up in. A short film featuring photography and poetry will offer new insights into the landscape of Birr, focusing on ‘hidden’ elements as well as familiar ones, whilst the experience will be supplemented with the artists’ speaking to their unique collaboration. A limited-edition publication of ‘Birr Town Stills’ will also be available on the night.
Commission funded by Offaly County Council Arts Office.
Bookings: www.birrtheatre.com or the box office 057 9122911 (1-5.30pm)
Family Friendly
Quiet thoughts, but out Loud – Paddy Slattery Book Launch and live interview by John Connors and Tiernan Williams, 8pm, Esker Arts, Tullamore. The official opening launch of Paddy Slattery’s book will include a live podcast style interview with the author hosted by John Connors and Tiernan Williams, as well as some entertainment from special guests on the night and audience talkback.
‘Quiet thoughts, but out Loud’ is a philosophical and observational book based on the challenges and the triumphs of Paddy Slattery’s life, which include a severe spinal cord injury leaving him paralyzed; two near death experiences and his debut film hitting the cinema and Netflix just as Covid was beginning to make headlines. In this book, he thinks out loud on his views of God, politics, society and everything in between.
Family Friendly; Booking: www.eskerarts.ie
Birr Theatre and Arts Centre presents Karin Leitner, flautist, 8pm, Birr Theatre and Arts Centre. Karin Leitner, flautist, will perform a selection of her own compositions for Irish tin whistle and orchestra along with some Irish ballads and well-known music from film scores including film music – Titanic, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Il Postino, The Mission, Cinema Paradiso – and her own compositions for Irish tin whistle and orchestra as well as Irish pieces like Inisheer and She Moved through the Fair and classical highlights. A great opportunity to see this internationally renowned artist in Offaly. Bookings: www.birrtheatre.com or the box office 057 9122911 (1 – 5.30pm)
This culture night sees an emphasis on diversity and inclusion with all communities encouraged to come and be part of a range of multi-disciplinary events. Creative Edenderry are hosting ‘Cultures of Edenderry’ – a special evening celebrating the diverse cultures and nationalities of Edenderry and surrounding areas. Hosted by Creative Edenderry, it will be an opportunity for locals to both showcase and sample some of the distinct cultural activities and produce from Ireland and around the world. Meanwhile, Tullamore sees Rahan Comhaltas hosting ‘Faces Of Creativity and Culture’ from 7.30pm in Charleville Castle. Rahan Comhaltas with Shakefest hosts an exciting and eclectic evening of cultural talent and variety featuring a special 20-minute performance by Bubble Lock Hip Hop. Rahan Comhaltas, part of the parish of Rahan nearby, are very much involved in the support of the Charleville Castle community as a Culture Centre of the Irish Midlands and host this exciting array of entertainment as well as share their own music, dance and storytelling. Moneygall Community Café also hosts an inclusive international event from 7.30pm inviting local and international residents to unite for an evening where we can all flavour the cultures we will share along with our national dishes, music and song. No booking required, but capacity is limited.
Visual art is also a strong feature of the programme with exhibitions in Birr Theatre and Arts Centre, and an exciting commission at Edenderry Library by Veronica Nicholson from 7.30pm. JJ Hough’s Singing Pub in Banagher hosts ‘The Two Faces of Tomorrow’ a one-night film screening and exhibition by Offaly artists Patrick Hough and Sheila Hough. Heritage and literature feature strongly this year. At Brendan House in Birr, there is a charming event called Granny Thompson’s Costumed Ragdolls, in the in the elegant setting of Rosalind and Derek Fanning’s Georgian home, with its period and artistic interior. A selection of these charming, witty, skinny costumed characters, from the many created by Rosalind’s grandmother, will be shown within the drawing room, the hallways and two to three of the bedrooms. Victorian and Edwardian music will be played in the drawing room throughout the tour.
Music will also take centre stage this year. Clara Musical Society hosts ‘Musical All Sorts’ at Friends Meeting House, Clara at 8pm and there are choral delights in Edenderry with Eden Chorale’s at Edenderry Library at 6.30pm as well music featuring at The Growery event in Birr from 7.30pm. Youth events feature strongly with an Open Youth Busk hosted by Music Generation Offaly at Esker Arts from 6pm. The young people from The Acorn Project in Edenderry will take centre stage with the premiere of their short film ‘Stand Up’ at 7pm in Esker Arts. Pulling no punches, ‘Stand Up’ is a short film set in Edenderry about boxing and making a choice. Opened by award-winning Playwright and Screenwriter, Eugene O’Brien, who supported the young people in the creation of this cutting script.
Culture Night is brought to you by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the Creative Ireland Programme in partnership with Offaly County Council.