Photo Brian Farrell
Culture Night Roscommon was launched recently in Somers Park, Castlerea. An unprecedented 23 events, fittingly being staged on September 23rd, will form the programme of this year’s event.
The schedule represents the most ambitious and extensive array of events to take place in the county, in what is traditionally one of the highlights of the local artistic calendar.
This year’s event was launched by the Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, Cllr Tom Crosby. The site of the launch was an appropriate location, as Somers Park is set to become one of the premier outdoor performing spaces in the county, with an adaptable capacity for up to 500 people. The venue will also host an evening of ancient music to coincide with this year’s Culture Night.
The launch of this year’s Culture Night saw impromptu performances by the inimitable Batty O’Brien. The launch was also attended by Cllr. Paschal Fitzmaurice, Rhona McGrath (Roscommon County Council Arts Officer) and Mary Smyth (Public Art and Engagement Officer, Roscommon Arts Office).
Culture Night invites everyone, everywhere, to discover and celebrate all that our culture is today on one joyful night of artistic expression. With a rich and diverse programme of events spanning circus to dance, film to literature, museums to music, heritage to funerals, history to art, Culture Night/Oíche Chultúir 2022 has become a staple of local and national cultural expression.
Culture Night Roscommon is supported by Roscommon County Council in partnership with the Arts Council, artists and cultural organisations throughout the county.
Events in Roscommon kick off at 3.30 pm and run until midnight. Audiences can experience culture for as long, as little, as early, or as late as they like! It’s about experiencing a range of arts and culture in the county’s eclectic cultural venues in the likes of Arigna, Ballydangan, Boyle, Castlerea, Cootehall, Frenchpark, Keadue, Knockcroghery, Roscommon town and Strokestown.
Music Generation Roscommon will host a late-night event for young bands and DJs at The Quad in Roscommon town. Events commemorating major historical figures are also a strong feature of Culture Night celebrations in Roscommon this year.
A major commemorative souvenir publication will appear as a supplement in The Roscommon Herald on September 20th as part of Roscommon’s Decade of Centenaries Programme.
The large-size commemorative publication is edited by former Roscommon County Librarian Richie Farrell in collaboration with sketch artist Lea Farrell and Public Art and Engagement Co-ordinator with Roscommon County Council, Mary Smyth. The publication is entitled ‘War & Peace – The Satirical Sketches of the Roscommon Herald 1920-1923’.
The aforementioned Richie Farrell is also instrumental in the staging of the inaugural Roderic O’Conor Conference, which will be launched at Clonalis House on Culture Night, with a full day programme of events at Roscommon Arts Centre on Saturday September 24th, as part of Roscommon’s Creative Ireland Programme.
For more information on Culture Night check out culturenight.ie/roscommon/ or join the conversation on the dedicated Roscommon Culture Night Facebook page. All events are proudly supported by Roscommon County Council and the Arts Council.
