CULTURE Night takes place in venues across the county this Friday, September 19. From sculpture trails and choral performances to open studios and poetry cafés, this year’s programme offers something for the whole family and every event is free to attend.

Inishowen Carnival presents AN PÚCA

At the heart of the celebrations is Letterkenny Town Park, which will be transformed into a setting of light, rhythm and colour.

This year, Inishowen Carnival presents An Púca, a tribute to the mischief-making shapeshifters of Celtic folklore. This year’s event will feature three striking large-scale Púca sculptures, a lantern and sculpture trail through the park, roaming characters, and live performances full of energy and wonder. As daylight fades, audiences will be treated to two performances of dance, music and fire (set for 8pm and 9pm), featuring Fusion Dance Company, Aishlingí Dance Academy and In Your Space Circus.

World Culture Open Air Performances

The park’s amphitheatre will also host World Culture Open Air Performances between 7pm and 8pm.

This event celebrates the diversity of Donegal’s communities, with performers from Ukraine, Ireland, South Africa and the Indian community filling the space with music, dance and song.

Visitors can wander through the park, enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and seamlessly flow from one celebration into the next, as the evening builds towards the dramatic spectacle of An Púca.

Cabaret, Choirs and Orchestra

For music lovers, the RCC’s Culture Night Cabaret will bring a lively late-night celebration of music, dance and performance. The line-up includes Indian cultural dancers, African song, Irish dancing, a Ukrainian choir, world music DJ and MC, poetry and theatre. In Conwal Parish Church, join the Donegal Chamber Orchestra to experience the music of Bach, Handel, Sibelius and Bizet. Following that performance, The Conwal Singers will bring together over 60 choral singers for an evening of reflective choral music at 8pm.

Exhibitions

In Donegal County Museum on the High Road, an exhibition entitled ‘Working Over By’ highlights the occupations, working conditions and work experiences of Donegal men and women in Scotland from 1940 to 1990. The Regional Cultural Centre (RCC) will also launch several exhibitions on Culture Night, including Another Time Undone, which explores how family, land and legacy shape artistic practice, along with Maria Gasol’s series of small gouache portraits, Mad, Bad, Sad: The Dark Side of Motherhood in Cinema, which explores film’s portrayal of dysfunctional motherhood.

The Irish Guide Dogs Exhibition by Clay M8 features eight original artworks inspired by the Guide, Assistance, Ambassador, and Brood dogs of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, Donegal Branch.

South Donegal and Inishowen Events

Donegal Town will also join in The Culture Night celebrations with When Three Choirs Meet, a performance that brings three diverse Donegal choirs – EnCor Tirconaill, The Donegal Abbey Singers and The Bluestack Chorale – together for a special choral celebration.

Inkwell and Pretty Baked in Donegal Town are also coming together to host a poetry cafe. Buncrana’s Main Street comes alive for a Culture Night Trail, and in Ballyshannon, the Old Barracks Studios and Gallery — an artist-run space in Ballyshannon — invites the public to explore its newly acquired studios in the historic Old Barracks building.

Other events in this year’s programme include a special evening of art and activity at Cló & Co in Ramelton, Sound and Vision – A Culture Night Video Art Exhibition in The Cottage Bar, and Behind The Scenes In The Library, where over the past 30 years, the library staff have gathered every article, book and author associated with Donegal and have them on display.

For full details, visit: www.culturenight.ie/donegal