what is labelled culture, such as art galleries, can feel unwelcoming to a lot of people. Which means they aren’t really culture, they just have that label. I’d like to see those spaces opened up, to become more socially engaged.”

Blindboy Boatclub, one half of the Rubberbandits. I am an artist.

and modernising. It’s exciting.”

From a debut EP of lo-fi bedroom funk pop to last year’s subtle, affecting ‘Trophy’, Katie Laffan delights in taking influence from a wealth of genres. Along the way, she and her band played a series of prestigious shows – including Cork Jazz, Electric Picnic, K Fest, Canalaphonic, Body & Soul, Other Voices and Young Blood at the NCH alongside Hare Squead and Rusangano Family. Her latest single ‘Tastemaker’ sees her take another left turn, this time into the world of disco and pop – while never losing her uncanny skill for a sharp lyric and a memorable melody.

faoi leith dúinn ar an saol. Tugann sí an rithim donár gcuid ceoil  agus rince. Is í an Ghaeilge bunús na  cora cainte  cruthaitheach sa Bhéarla a úsaidtear in Éirinn agus a bhfuil mar dhúshraithe ag ár scríobhneoirí móra le rá mar Joyce, Kavanagh, Yeats agus Heaney Múnlaíonn an Ghaeilge ár gcoinsias agus ár síce agus is í an Ghaeilge a dhéanann Éireannaigh dúinn. “Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam.”

Mairéad was born and raised in the heartland of the Gaoth Dobhair Gaeltacht in Donegal. She is a native speaker and learnt her songs and tunes from her family and neighbours. Mairéad is internationally known as one of the most important fiddle players that play in the unique Donegal style.

storytelling is the true source of inspiration, being invited as a Cultural Trailblazer is humbling, and I am proud to showcase what we as a creative community have to offer.”

Intercontinental artist Solus has used spray paint as his medium for over 10 years, leaving his mark in Europe, America and Asia on walls, canvas and various print media.  His successful use of colour and positive imagery evokes a sense of hope and leaves a mark that is undeniably his. Solus is based in Dublin and can be often found in New York City.

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unique power.”

Tom Hickey is one of the leading Irish actors of his generation. He trained with Deirdre O’Connell at the Stanislavski Studio, and with her was a founder member of Dublin Focus Theatre. He has worked extensively at Ireland’s national theatre, The Abbey Theatre, from the seventies onwards, notably in Brecht’s Galileo, Tom Murphy’s The Gigli Concert, Brian Friel’s Give Me Your Answer Do and Frank McGuinness’s Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme. A frequent player at the renowned Gate Theatre Dublin, Hickey has appeared in Waiting for Godot, Aristocrats, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Lady Windermere’s Fan. His most important roles on the British stage include Jack in Conor McPhersons The Weir in London’s West End and UK tour and Joxer in O’Casey’s Juno and the Paycock at the National Theatre. His film credits include: Breakfast on Pluto, Inside I’m Dancing, The Butcher Boy, My Left Foot, and Garage.

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bedtime story workshops, acting master class, puppets, exhibitions, films, music from trad to musicals in venues as diverse as Birr Castle, Gardens & Science Centre, Tullamore Community Arts Centre, local libraries, Leap castle, Lough Boora, Houghs bar… so much… its bursting with stuff this year…. Look it up… get involved…UP OFFALY!!!”

Eugene O’Brien wrote the play EDEN which debuted at the Peacock Theatre in 2001 and transferred to the Abbey stage later that year and then onto the Arts Theatre London in 2002. EDEN received the Irish times theatre award, the Stewart Parker award and the Rooney prize for literature. Eugene adapted the play for the screen and the film, directed by Declan Recks, played many festivals around the world.

literature, Performance, music, poetry, storytelling, in the Arts Cabaret, To Traditional music,  Print demonstrations, dance and storytelling, Irish and Syrian collaborative workshop, Artists talks, Visual arts installation, Singing, Events in Stokestown Park and the Douglas Hyde Centre, Along with Inside Craft pop up shop. Something for everyone young and not so young. Come out early to make sure you have time to get around to several events.”

Visual artist and educator Frances Crowe works from her studio in Grange Four Mile House Roscommon, she is passionate about facilitating creative engagement workshops and allowing adults and children to express themselves. Collaborating with artists across many disciplines she brings together a wealth of knowledge to the creative sector.

Her artistic expression is primarily through the medium of woven tapestry. In her new body of work she explores migration, diversity and sharing.

She has curated an exhibition of woven tapestry titled: “Interconnections 1” 2016 bringing together 4 Scottish and 10 Irish artists to exhibit together for the first time. A biannual event Plans for “Interconnections 2” 2018 are well under way.

born and bred, and West Cork, where she and her husband, Geoffrey Knox, bought and renovated a house some years ago. Alice feels honoured to have been asked to be Cork County Culture Night Ambassador: “Being a blow-in from cultural Manhattan, I love exploring cultural County Cork. There’s something for everyone. For theatre lovers, see what the Glanworth Players are up to. If your passion is history, visit Cobh’s Sirius Arts Centre in the beautifully restored Royal Cork Yacht Club next to The Heritage Centre, and learn about the Famine and The Titanic. In my own neck of the woods, Skibbereen’s West Cork Art Centre in a haven for contemporary visual art with classes for children and adults alike. Out on Beara, there’s Hungary Hill Writing. Culture abounds all around the county, even there in your own village or town. Take advantage of it.”

On Culture Night, Alice Carey will be conducting half-hour workshops in County Hall exploring the art of diary writing, what it is and isn’t, famous and not-so-famous people who’ve kept them, and what works and doesn’t in creating one’s own. If you’ve ever wanted to write a diary but weren’t sure how to start, or keep going, now’s your chance! Buoyed by fellow participants you’ll write an entry. Some will be read aloud and we’ll all end up a step ahead on one of the most exciting writing forms everyone can master.

as Kerry’s Local Culture Night Ambassador. In 2003 Aidan started playing Gaelic football with the Kerry Senior Football and made seventy championship appearances, featuring in eighty five league games for Kerry up to his retirement in 2017. Aidan is a member of An Garda Síochána. He has become a passionate supporter of dance and as Kerry’s Local Ambassador for Culture Night he is convinced that dance can play a transformative role our lives, keeping us fit and focussed on creating art using movement. Aidan says that ‘Dance is a tonic for the brain and the body, hugely enjoyable and a powerful way of expressing own creativity’.

titles and a bronze medal at the 2010 European Championships in Moscow. Eric won his first professional featherweight title on September 9th.

an tidhreacht, agus mo shaothar oibre agus pribhléid mhór domsa a bheith im’ ambasadóir Ghaeltachta d’Oíche Chultúir 2017.’

Tá clú agus cáil ar Mhuireann Nic Amhlaoidh aon áit a bhfuil ceol Gaelach á sheinnt. Tógtha i nDún Chaoin, stáidsí an domhan bainte amach aici, gradaim bronnta uirthi, chomh compordach ar scáileáin ‘s atá sí ar stáidse, tá sí abhaile i gCorca Dhuibhne ar tí dhá albam nua a sheoladh. Bí ag faire amach do Foxglove & Fuchsia sa Fomhair maraon le eisiú nua óna togra nua Aeons.

One of the earthiest and most distinctive voices, not just in traditional circles, but anywhere." Raised in Dunquin, surrounded by the tradition, singer and flute-player Muireann Nic Amhlaoidh has gone full circle, touring the world with Danú, presenting TV with long-time collaborator Julie Fowlis, receiving multiple awards, winning fans and musical collaborators along the way. Now re-immersed in the West Kerry Gaeltacht, she is on the cusp of launching not one but two new albums – Foxglove & Fuchsia – a pared-back vocal album and a first album from Aeons, her exciting new collaboration with Padraig Rynne.

Lucy was the overall winner in this year’s Texaco Art Competition. An exhibition entitled  ‘Time and Space’ – A Celebration of Texaco Children’s Art Success in Laois’ including works by Lucy  and those by other prize winners from Laois takes place in the Laois Arthouse, Stradbally, and opens from 6.00pm-8.00pm on Culture Night.

The exhibition is curated by Lucy and will include her colourful portrait study of her brother Tom, carefully executed with colouring pencils and white gel pen, which won her top prize in the 63rd Texaco Children’s Art Competition held just months ago.

“My brother Tom is special to our family. Because he means so much to us, I wanted to capture him at his happiest,” she said.

No stranger to the competition, Lucy has featured amongst the prizewinners on five occasions to date. Her three siblings, brother Tom and sisters Annie Rose and Juliet, have also won prizes in previous years.

As part of her prizewinning package, 17-years old Lucy from Luggacurran received a top prize of €1,500 plus an invitation to visit Tokyo awarded by the International Foundation for Arts and Culture where she was an honoured guest at a ceremony held in conjunction with the 18th International High School Arts Festival in which her winning artwork was exhibited

A pupil of Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach in Carlow Town, Lucy Deegan is the daughter of well-known tourism industry figure, Jim Deegan – founder of the Railtours Ireland First Class organisation, and his wife Fionnuala – herself an accomplished animation artist whose work features in Hollywood blockbusters ‘An American Tail’ and ‘All Dogs Go To Heaven’.

Underlining the support that exists for the Texaco Children’s Art Competition is the fact that, over the past five years alone, some 2,799 entries were received from young Laois artists – a figure that confirms the view that the number of entries submitted by Laois students since the competition first began in 1955 amounts to some tens of thousands.

‘Time and Space’ – A Celebration of Texaco Children’s Art Success in Laois will be opened by the Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council Padraig Fleming. Speaking about the exhibition Cathaoirleach Padraig Fleming said, ‘the level of young talent in our county is evident from the art works on display. The work is breathtaking. It is a must-see exhibition. Choosing Lucy Deegan as Culture Night Ambassador is a very fitting honour. She is an inspiration to all art lovers, young and old in our county.’

new stories. Real stories. Ones that represent who we are together.​ So be part of switching on Culture with your stores on Culture Night in Limerick.”

Godknows Jonas works with Music Generation Limerick City. www.musicgenerationlimerickcity.com

we have art galleries and performance venues and our traditions should never be forgotten on days like St Patrick’s Day.  However, culture is very different. It’s living, it’s constantly changing, it’s how we are now, in this time. It can be built on, fluid and constantly in motion. Culture is all around us every second of every day, it encompasses our habits, food, religion, what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage, music, what we believe is right or wrong. It is a snapshot of what and how Ireland is in 2017.  That is why Culture Night is so important and why we should all get out and celebrate US- our Ireland and our culture.”