Over 76 events will take place throughout Galway city and county for this year’s Culture Night on Friday, September 21.
 

While the city has celebrated Culture Night in previous years, this is the first time County Galway will officially take in the celebrations, with 17 towns and villages holding events.

Aughrim will host a lecture by Dr Frank Shovlin of Liverpool University, entitled Aughrim and James Joyce. Dr Shovlin will examine the place that Aughrim played in James Joyce's literary imagination, focusing particularly on Joyce’s reasons for using the song The Lass of Aughrim in his renowned short story The Dead, and going on to look at his fascination with the fall of Jacobite Ireland in 1691.

This will be followed by a creative interpretation of Richard Murphy’s 1968 poem, The Battle of Aughrim with a recital by locals, Carmel Murray, Robin Newton, Cormac Jennings and Tomas Dolan and newly commissioned music by composer Francis Heery. Still Sloping, local musicians and descendants of the renowned Aughrim Slopes Céilí Band will showcase further work from Aughrim’s musical legacy, before the evening concludes with music and drumming workshop for young people by Cormac Jennings and friends.

In Gort, Coole Park Visitor Centre will be open from late, from 7.00pm-9.00pm and visitors can learn about life there 100 years ago when Lady Gregory presided. A guided evening walk through the woods may be offered, weather permitting, giving people a chance to see bats and other nocturnal creatures.

The Courthouse in nearby Kinvara will be the venue for Children’s Storytelling, a Culture Café, an exhibition of Robert Ellis’s photography and a lively fiddle session. A one-man show from Brian Fleming, Gis a Shot of your Bongos, Mister will take place in Johnston’s, while Kinvara Community Centre will showcase a Music Night with talented Dublin cellist, Vyvienne Long.

In Claregalway there will be free tours of the village historic castle, followed by a concert later that evening.

Athenry will host a number of events. These include readings of Mary Lavin’s short stories in Athenry Library, music in the Heritage Centre and a special screening of the Japanese film, Haru’s Journey in Athenry Castle.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.