Culture Night, the annual national celebration of creativity and the arts, will be marked this year in Laois with an extravaganza of cultural events.
Plans are currently underway throughout the county to ensure that Culture Night 2025 will be a night to remember.
On September 19, community groups, arts organisations and individuals throughout the length and breadth of Laois will join the rest of the country in opening their doors, into the evening, to share a series of free and unique events programmed especially for this year’s Culture Night.
A rich tapestry of events that includes art exhibitions and workshops, spoken word and music, Indian and contemporary dance will be sure to entice the people of Laois out in their droves for this annual celebration of culture.
In Castletown Slí Sibéal will be brought to life in light, music and story.
Clonad GAA have a massive treat in store with a showing of the multi award winning film An Cailín Ciúin, followed by a harp recital and evening of Irish conversation.
Power of Words will share one of their boutique spoken word and music evenings in Mooney’s Pub in Abbeyleix.
The highly talented folk singer Emer Dunne and her band will perform on her home turf in Mountmellick and folk music will also be to the fore at Dunamaise Arts Centre, with a concert by BBC and RTE Folk singer of the year Ríoghnach Connolly.
Portarlington have gone all out this year with a Culture Crawl organised by Port Arts Collective which will showcase the creative talents of Portarlington community over the course of the evening.
Shanahoe Community have also curated a wonderful evening of music with performances from CUA and the Laois School of Music Adult Orchestra.
An abundance of culture will be evident throughout the evening; visible in its many rich and diverse forms.
The visual arts will be strongly represented with an exhibition at Laois Arthouse Gallery and Studios by artist Paul Cashin and Bloom HQ in Mountrath will play host to the Gallery of Divine Inspiration; showcasing works by Kevin McCann, Mike Rafter and Antoinette Breen.
Artist Mary Slevin will open her studio in Killenard for the afternoon and give one of her incomparable collage workshops.
Dance in a number of forms, including contemporary and Indian, will add another layer of colour to this year’s programme of events.
Contemporary dance artist Annekatrin Kiesel will unveil her new work, SWAMP and Bubbelock an award-winning Tamil dance artist will share his wonderful talents over two workshops.
Laois Libraries will also play host to a number of events including Spink and Mountmellick Comhaltas, storytelling in Portlaoise and Mountrath libraries and an evening of music, comedy and dance with Ann Moylan in Rathdowney Library.
A spokesperson said: “This year promises to be our biggest and brightest Culture Night so far, we invite you to come and join us as we truly embrace our culture in all its diverse forms.
“Culture Night is brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council.
“Cuireann an Chomhairle Ealaíon Oíche Chultúir i láthair, i gcomhpháirt le Comhairle Chontae Laoise. With support from Creative Ireland Laois.”
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