Droves come out ffor a colourful and eclectic Culture Night

A FEAST OF DIVERSE EVENTS BREAKS OUT ALL ACROSS THE REGION

CULTURE NIGHT has really taken off across Cork, and the entire country, and people came out in droves last Friday to sample local fare all across North and Mid Cork.

The Corkman dipped in and out to sample a great deal of the fare on offer - and it proved a rich selection, reflecting an eclectic cultural panorama across the region.

Millstreet on Culture Night proved a resounding success with a diverse programme meeting with a positive response from the public.

Community Council Chairman Noel Buckley applauded all concerned with a variety of events indoors and outdoors.

“This year Millstreet built upon the success of recent years by continuing to provide an evening of interesting events for the public to attend and enjoy,” he said.

Millstreet Museum opened its doors, and patrons observed the many historic items on display as Museum Curator Seán Radley related to visitors some of the rare acquisitions presented to the Museum over the years.

Outdoors, Millstreet Pipe Band delivered a recital in the Town Square with a Vintage Display promoted by Millstreet Vintage Club drawing attention. Indoors, a painting exhibition was promoted by Bertie Buckley in addition to a display by the Millstreet Knitting Club.

Co-ordinator Marie Twomey helped put together entertainment in the Wallis Arms Hotel that included the Millstreet Under 12 Ladies Set Dancers successful in Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, the Empire Acrobatic Rock’n Roll group, music by Millstreet Comhaltas, Millstreet Convent School Choir, Drishane Castle Choir, Aubane ‘Straw Boys’ Set Dancers and many more guests.

Elsewhere, there were Trad sessions around the town, Board Games, Bingo and the 1973 All Ireland Football Final between Cork and Galway met with a positive response,

Earlier in the day, An Garda Siochána in conjunction with Millstreet Community Council hosted a an informative talk at the Drishane Provision Centre with Supt Joe McDermott; Sgt James O’Donovan, Crime Prevention Officer; Garda James O’Mahony, JLO; Garda Fintan Sleator, Cyber Expert; Garda Gráinne Duggan and Sgt Paul Lynch in attendance and their presence met with a positive reaction.

THE children of St. Anne’s School, Charleville participated fully in a dramatized version of a story dating from 1846 as part of Charleville’s contribution to Culture Night last Friday at the local library.

Members of Charleville Heritage Society, Sr. Bernadette Maria, Evelyn O’Keeffe and Mike Donegan were on hand to assist in the telling of the story of Charleville boy Jack Duggan, who was hoisted to the top of the 30metre spire to free a flag which had become entangled in the spire of the new St. James’ Church.

St. James’ Church had been built on the site of the town’s former church in 1845, which had served Protestant worshippers of the area since Roger Boyle founded the town in 1661. In 1846 it was consecration day and there was a huge crowd of people in the town when the English flag became entangled in the spire. However, young Jack Duggan from the Newtownbarry district volunteered to be hoisted to the top of the spire in a bucket to free the flag.

He succeeded in his mission, to great acclaim from the assembled crowd below. However, on being lowered back to the ground he ran off through the multitude. Afterwards it emerged that he found he was terrified of heights, and thereafter he couldn’t even bear to mention the word ‘spire’ to the day he died.

The story, which was devised by Evelyn O’Keeffe was brilliantly dramatised by Sr. Bernadette Maria, assisted by Mike Donegan in the hoisting of the bucket within the confines of the library.

The children were fully compliant in acting out the drama, and afterwards participated in a colouring competition of the outline of St. James’ Church and the bucket being hoisted to the top of the spire.

Later on, a large number of locals viewed the many pictures of old Charleville from the Lawrence Collection and other photographs of local people and buildings which were on view at Provincial Heritage Centre at Main Street, where they were welcomed by the curator, Sr. Bernadette Maria, with again members of Charleville Heritage Society on hand to clarify any issues that were raised.

There was also a night of music at the Schoolyard Theatre, which was also well attended.

Millstreet Museum Curator Seán Radley pictured with Bob and Valerie Fields, Patrick W O’Leary, Pat McCarthy, Seán and Martha Gaffney on Culture Night. Picture John Tarrant

Elaina and Fia Brosnan, Eadaoin McSweeney, Maura Fitzpatrick, Una O’Mahony and Kate Fleming performed at the ‘Station Mass’ in Christ the King Church, Knocknagree, as part of Culture Night. Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald

Mary Bradford, Kerri Fitzgerald and Marion Coleman from Charleville, each read some of their own works, during Culture Night in Kanturk at the Daily Grind.

Carmel O’Mahony, Ben Murphy and Geraldine O’Connor getting the tea ready at ‘The Stations’ which were re-enacted as part of Culture Night in Knocknagree

Louise Curtin and Jayne Harrington performed at the ‘Kanturk Miscellany’ at the Daily Grind in Kanturk.

Frankie Mueller sang ‘Caledonia’ on Culture Night at Scully’s in Newmarket.

Mike Donegan of Charleville Heritage Society operating the bucket for the dramatisation of the story Jack and the Spire by Sr. Bernadette Maria and Evelyn O’Keeffe for the children of St. Amne’s School for Culture night at Charleville Library.

The Millstreet Comhalthas Ceolteioirí U12 Set Dancers performed in Millstreet and Cullen on Culture Night.

Above: Members of the All Ireland winning U12 Crossfield Ceilí Band performed at the Cullen staging on Culture Night. Picture John Tarrant

Kanturk’s Muireann Vaughan performing on Culture Night in Cullen.

Right: Evelyn O’Keeffe and Sr. Bernadette Maria of Charleville Heritage Society who devised the Jack and the Spire story for children at Charleville Library for Culture Night.

Nicky and Anne McAulliffe performing in Cullen on Culture Night.

Seán Bowman from Boherbue on stage during Culture Night at Scully’s in Newmarket. Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald

Viv Buckley, Mary Angland and Lisa Egan of Kanturk Arts Festival Committee, organised the ‘Kanturk Miscellany’ as part of Culture Night in Kanturk.