Culture Night comes of age with extended curfew

National Culture Night 2023 takes place on Friday, September 22, and once again, Mayo will not be found wanting. All across the county there will be free cultural events happening right through the evening, giving everyone a chance to experience something new. There’s a huge variety of cultural treats to choose from too, whether you plump to immerse yourself in one or squeeze in a few.
This year marks the 18th iteration of the celebration of culture and creativity. Since its humble beginnings in Dublin’s Temple Bar in 2006, it has spread into every nook and cranny of the country, allowing artists, performers, galleries, arts centres, museums, community groups, sports clubs, studios, schools and theatres to fling open their doors and showcase their wares to locals and visitors alike.
In Mayo, Culture Night will be celebrated in communities in Achill, Ballina, Ballycroy, and Blacksod, to Carracastle, Castlebar, Claremorris, Westport and more.
According to Mayo Arts Officer Ann Marie McGing, this year will for the first time feature ‘late night’ events. These are being presented with additional support from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Night Time Economy Taskforce. These later-evening events are designed to engage a younger cohort and keep the celebrations going far into the night.
“In Mayo, Culture Night ‘Late’ is a joyful celebration of our connection through music,” Ann Marie explains. “The ‘Late’ events include a concert organised by Ballina 2023, which will feature rapper Sweetlemondae, Irish folk singer Steo Wall and the Landless a cappella group, as well as local Mayo act Doppler.
“Also in Ballina, the David Munnelly Duo play a late-night gig in in Ballina Art Centre, while in Claremorris a multicultural ‘Where is Home?’ event features prose, poetry music and dance from all the local cultures until late into the night.
“In Castlebar, at the Linenhall, DJ Mtoolz will play a selection of South African House, Amapiano, hip hop and R&B classics, while in Castlebar Music West will host a wide selection of bands, choirs and orchestras. There here will also be late night Jazz at the Clew Bay Hotel in Wesport, and in Ballina, ‘No Disco’ DJ Donal Dineen will bring his famous ‘Backstory’ [a night of dancing tunes and original visuals] home. Meanwhile, in Achill and Killlala, trad sessions will keep the community swinging well into the evening.”
The National Museum of Country Life in Turlough Park is running a fascinating event called ‘St Gobnait and the Bees’, during which Irish Folklife Curator Tiernan Gaffney will explore the life and folklore associated with St Gobnait, Patron Saint of Bees and Iron Workers. Unlike most Christian saints, there is no hagiography written on St Gobnait so much of what we know comes from folklore. The talk is a nice complement to a new temporary exhibition, ‘A Murmur of Bees’, on show at the museum.
Over in Achill, local artist Hayley Griffith will be exhibiting work in the historic surrounds of mid-nineteenth-century Bunnacurry Monastery, accompanied by music from John Mahon, while in Carracastle there’ll be song, storytelling and crafts – with a short fill made locally showcasing traditional crafts and farm practices.
Back in Westport, Tertulia bookshop at the Quay will be hosting ‘Where Art Meets Literature’, an evening of art, literature and thought-provoking, lively debate with local artist and philosopher Lukasz Krzywon. Another Quay venue, the Custom House Studios, will host exhibitions and artist talks by Eoin MacLochlainn and Hazel McCrann, as well as its traditional ‘Open Studios’, which gives the public a chance to visit working artists’ and printmakers’ studios – and try their hand at making drypoint print. The Clew Bay Pipe Band will be providing a musical backdrop to all.
Back in the town, Westport Town Hall Theatre (in conjunction with Westport Family and Community Resource Centre) is hosting ‘One Night for All – Culture, Cuisine and Conversation’ with tables from more than 20 different countries. This family-friendly multicultural event will celebrate and share the variety of cultures in and around Westport – there’ll be finger food, crafts, textiles, art, children’s fun and no doubt plenty of great chats.
‘Crowned – Exploring Hair and Culture with African Women’ looks like another fascinating event in Castlebar. Identity will be explored through story, conversation and artwork from African women living in the northwest of Ireland. Celesta Khosa, Ayandolapo Ayannike Abiolu, Rispa Mwang and Maureen Nalubega, from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda, respectively, will be in conversation with Breda Mayock, sharing life stories and personal narratives that are intertwined with hair – their crowning glory. The four speakers have all lived in Direct Provision and will be collaborating with Mayock to tell their stories through various media – video, sound, conversation and portraiture.
Also in Castlebar, the good people behind Mood Ceramics will be demonstrating slip casting, glazing and firing in their studio. People can enjoy some music and refreshments while getting hands-on with clay, decorating ceramic hearts which will be fired and glazed.
And if the mention of nibbles has you thinking of your belly and how it too might like a taste of culture, you might also be interested in a food and drink tour of the county town with Gnó Mhaigh Eo, with a cúpla focal to add some cultural seasoning.
This is just a sample of what will be on offer across the county on September 22. The full Mayo menu is still being tweaked and finalised, but one thing is for sure – no matter how big your cultural appetite, there’ll be plenty to chew on, raise a glass to and enjoy.

• For more information on these events and the full Culture Night programme, visit www.culturenight.ie, or check Facebook and Instagram for Mayo Culture Night updates. To be considered for a Culture Night listing, contact Audrey Robinson on info@mayoculturenight.ie.