Clare Culture Night takes place today, Friday 19th September with over 45 free activities for all ages to enjoy displaying the diverse, innovative and vibrant art that Clare has to offer.
In Ennis, attendees can follow a Culture Night trail featuring seventeen events, including: music; art exhibitions; poetry; and dance. A collage workshop will be running in Súil, followed by João Tudella’s ‘Under The Ambient’ live mixed film from 8:45pm.
glór will host ‘QueerVerse: A Celebration of LGBTQIA+ Poets’ in the Studio Theatre and Lou McMahon’s ‘Butterfly Wars – Meaisín World’ in the Red Room. Additionally, Laura Jane Ellis will host a dance workshop outside the library from 6:30pm, weather pending, which is suitable for 8-year-olds to teenagers.
West Clare will see a plethora of traditional music in Kilrush, Kilbaha and Lissycasey. Mike Butler, Aidan McMahon and Micheal Landers will take to the stage at Cultúrlann Sweeney, Kilkee, and a ballet workshop will take place at Kilrush Town Square in the outdoor structure from 4pm, suitable for ages 4 to 8.
East Clare offers a busy evening with events in Tulla, Scarriff, Mountshannon, Crusheen and Killaloe, featuring music, art, and dance and spoken word. Mountshannon will host an evening of music, spoken word and a sculpture unveiling at the harbour. There will be Flamenco jazz fusion and dancing in Crusheen, while Tulla will have a cultural concert at Cnoc Na Gaoithe and an exhibition in Tulla Stables, curated by Ce/ART.
Finally, in Scarriff there will be paper chain making in Edna O’Brien Library, and Bruach Ensemble and Balfolk Dance will host a workshop in the East Clare Community Cooperative Society.
In the southeast, Shannon will present an evening of events from 6pm until late. The Newmarket-on-Fergus Community Centre Brass Band will perform a 45-minute selection of music in O’Regan Park or in the community centre if the weather is bad. The Tír na nÓg Showcase will be an immersive evening of theatrical expression in an open-air space nestled in Sixmilebridge.
In north Clare, Songs and Stories from The Spa takes place at the Pavillion, Lisdoonvarna, promising an evening of folklore, songs, stories, music, dance, and art. Ennistymon also has a busy evening scheduled, starting with Aindrias de Staic at The Salmon Bookshop & Literary Centre. Grace Wells will host the Hive Nature Poetry Showcase followed by an open mic. Join Sara Foust in her studio for a light-hearted conversation and Q&A about comedic questions she has fielded about her artwork. The Liminal Landscapes exhibition opening takes place at The Courthouse Gallery & Studios from 7pm.
Rounding off Culture Night in north Clare is the very best of traditional musicians, singers, dancers, and storytellers, performed by members of the Inis Díomáin/Ennistymon Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann from 7pm to 9pm. Additionally, Hotel Doolin hosts the Culture Night Late event in The Attic from 9pm. Emain Ablach is a suite of music composed by award-winning musician and composer Neil Ó Lochlainn and performed by a thrilling 10-piece ensemble featuring some of the best musicians in the country today.
All of the above events and more can be found on the Culture Night Website. All events are FREE. Some require prebooking and some are weather dependent so keep an eye on our socials for updates!
Proudly brought to you by Arts Council and Clare County Council.