Plenty of excitement in store for culture vultures visiting the city
MORE THAN 250 EVENTS TAKING PLACE AT OVER 130 VENUES ACROSS CULTURE NIGHT
AS Ireland’s second city, Cork has always prided itself on being every bit as attractive to visitors as the capital, with hidden and not so hidden gems dominating the skyline and almost every street corner.
Many of these gems will feature in a packed programme for Culture Night 2018 this coming Friday, with more than 250 free events taking place at more than 130 venues across the course of the evening.
Cork City Council has issued an open invitation to the public to explore the city by bike, bus, on foot or even on the river Lee, to enjoy an exciting line-up of events that promises to seep into every nook and cranny of the city. It will give people a fantastic opportunity to revel in its vibrant and exciting cultural heritage.
With so much happening on Culture Night, it is no exaggeration to say that there truly is something for everyone, with dancing, live music, theatre and film and exhibitions for adults and children set to take over the city’s streets, buildings and waterways.
While the list of events is far too exhaustive to include in a single article, below are just some of the highlights across a wide and varied range of interests.
Cork will come alive to the sweet sound of music on Friday evening, with venues across the city set to provide an eclectic and varied soundtrack to proceedings.
For example, visitors to the City Hall have been invited to ‘Come Dancing’ in the company of Evelyn Grant and the Cork Pops Orchestra, who will be playing a selection of music from the sweeping waltzes of Johann Strauss to the pop-infused tunes of ABBA from 7pm to 9.30pm.
Other musical highlights will include an outdoor variety concert in the Plaza outside City Hall featuring an impressive array of artists across various genres; a concert of 1920s/’30sstyle jazz and swing by the Cork Light Orchestra at the Cork City Gaol from 6pm to 7pm; choral performances at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral; and free concerts at venues including the Crane Lane Theatre, The Everyman Palace and the CIT Cork School of Music.
Libraries, museums and historical buildings across the city will be busy playing host to exhibitions and workshops, with the Collins Barracks Military Museum open to the public from 5pm to 9pm; people invited to tour the Cork City and County Archives in Blackpool from 6pm to 7pm; and the Masonic Hall, the home of Cork Freemasonry, open to visitors from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.
The city’s rich and vibrant culinary scene will be celebrated through a series of mouth-watering events, with the world-famous English Market open for business late into the night, and tours and beer tasting at The Franciscan Well and Rising Sons Breweries.
A series of guided walks and tours will traverse the city across the whole of Friday, taking in some of Cork’s landmark buildings including the City Gaol, Elizabeth Fort, The Lifetime Lab, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral and the UCC Visitor’s Centre.
People will also be able to climb aboard one of Naomhóga Chorcaí and Meitheal Mara’s currachs or a longboat to experience views of Cork’s bridges from an entirely new angle. The Port of Cork will also be running cultural boat tours along the River Lee.
For a full programme of events visit www.culturenightcork.ie.