Ireland’s annual Culture Night will take place on Friday 23 September this year.

The 17th Culture Night will see over 1,000 events take place all over the country, ranging from theatre and music to exhibitions and guided tours.

Culture Night aims to celebrate the rich cultures that Ireland has to offer, incorporating both the new and the traditional into a night of discovery and inclusion.

In 2021, over 1.1 million people engaged with Culture Night in some way, so this year’s event promises something for everyone.

Notably, more late-night events have been planned for this year, as a response to growing interest in nighttime events.

Festivities will be located in towns and cities, as well as in smaller communities. Check out our list of six Culture Night highlights below.

Dublin

Over 300 free events have been planned for this year’s Culture Night in Dublin. With that in mind, there’s no shortage of things to do.

A late-night visit of the GPO museum is a unique experience that will surely appeal to anyone with an interest in Irish history.

The visit will tell the story of Ireland’s revolutionary era, through the eyes of those who lived through it.

Over 100 artefacts will be on show, including many items of personal significance from people whose lives were altered by the events of the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War.

There will also be an immersive film shown as part of the visit, which creates a sense of what it was like to be present in Dublin during the 1916 Easter Rising.

Advance booking is essential for this event.

Galway

The city that was chosen as the European Capital of Culture for 2020 unsurprisingly has a multitude of events planned for this year’s Culture Night.

Outside of the city, the Connemara town of Clifden will be holding a fun sing-along social in Mullarky’s Bar.

The event is described as a “zero-commitment choir designed for people who can’t sing”, meaning it’s all about the craic.

There is a battle between ABBA and Fleetwood Mac and those who attend are encouraged to don their best costumes of the band members, as there will be prizes for best dressed.

Nick Timothy & The House Cats will play at 9pm, allowing time to prepare to sing your heart out to classic tunes late into the night from 10.30pm.

Donegal

Conway’s Bar in the riverside town of Ramelton promises a night of quirky entertainment with a cabaret night.

There will be everything from lessons on foraging food in the Ramelton area with Fraoch from the Fanciful Foodie, to belly-dancing and burlesque from Megan Jennings at the bar.

On top of all this, Taryn de Vere will be telling stories, Maximum Homosapien will perform songs and poetry and The Tipsy Crow will round off the night with music.

This is an event for anyone who wants to let loose and enjoy something out of the ordinary.

No booking is required.

Cork

Mallow Castle is providing a treat for all family members with an outdoor screening of popular film The Greatest Showman.

As well as the film itself, there will be live music and performances during the evening.

If you love the film’s iconic track list, here’s your chance to join fellow fans to blast out 'This Is Me' and 'Never Enough', as well as keeping the kids entertained.

Booking is required for this event.

Offaly

Split Space Art Joint in Tullamore is holding a family-friendly beady pocket exhibition by members of Offaly Traveller Movement.

'Beady pockets' are a unique tradition within the Traveller community. These were hand-sewn pockets decorated with buttons, colourful threads and holy medals, which were passed from mother to daughter.

Francesca Hutchinson took inspiration from her grandmother and studied beady pockets as part of her BA in fine arts studies.

Francesca will be present at the exhibition, where visitors will see the beautiful handmade pockets and learn of the significance of them in Traveller culture.

A workshop ran by Francesca recently saw 20 participants from the Offaly Traveller Movement learn to make their own pockets.

This workshop was filmed for TG4 and footage from the workshop will be shown upstairs in the gallery during the exhibition.

Westmeath

Mullingar was the location for this year’s Fleadh Cheoil, so it’s no surprise that the town will be holding a showcase of traditional Irish song and dance.

Located at Áras an Mhuilinn, the occasion will include a variety of acts who have an affinity for Irish music.

The accordion, spoons, uilleann pipes, bodhrán and harp are among the instruments on the agenda, as well as set dancing.

This event is suitable for all ages and aims to display Irish music and dancing at its finest.

Further information and more details on what’s taking place in your community for Culture Night 2022 is available here.