What's on for Culture Night 2021
By Sarah Slevin
A wide variety of free events have been organised in Westmeath for Culture Night 2021, meaning there is something for just about everyone tomorrow, Friday 17 September.
The long-awaited return of live music and dance is to be celebrated on Culture Night, starting with a dance show by Energy Plus School of Dance from 6pm at Dominick Place.
At 7pm Mullingar Town Band are performing live at Lakepoint Residential Estate, and that is followed by an open performance organised by Áras an Mhuilinn from 8pm at Market Square, which includes music, song and local lore.
Throughout the county, artists have prepared exhibitions, starting with Jessica Daly’s ‘Forward and Back’ in Columb Barracks from 5pm to 8pm.
From 6pm, join a Royal Canal Way inspired exhibition at Crane Bird Art Studio or at Pasta Bella Restaurant enjoy Yassine Imejjat’s exhibition of oil and canvas paintings.
At Uisneach Visitor Centre, three local artists have set up shop, Hilary Kinehan, Rosemary Langtry and Carmel Rooney, open for visits from 7.30pm to 9pm.
For a bit of history, a walking tour exploring the cultural heritage of Mullingar has been organised from Market House, with historian and guide, Ruth Illingworth.
You can join Ruth for free from Market Square on Friday 17 September from 7pm and she will take you on a tour exploring the rich literacy, musical and artistic heritage of Mullingar.
(Ruth has also planned a second tour for Monday 20 September which explores Columb Barracks and its accompanying stories of “executions, ghosts, war heroes and the world’s longest lease.”)
For the book-lovers, there is a range of events organised online, from poetry reading to interviews and talks, starting from 6.30pm over on Westmeath Library’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/mgrlib.
Other live streaming will include Belvedere House’s recap of its history since opening to the public, which takes place on Facebook from 7pm on the night at https://www.facebook.com/belvederehousegardensandpark.
There have also been a number of daytime events organised throughout the locality, from as early as 10am.
Teresa Doyle will lead a number of walks around the Collinstown area, and you can find out the times and location at https://www.facebook.com/TeresaDoyleBespokeDolls.
From 3pm to 5pm, there are parent and child painting classes organised by Caithriona at Devine Art Shop, while from 4pm to 8.30pm, you can engage in the history of Parish Church Delvin, with three tours.
More live stream events will include Music Generation Offaly Westmeath’s celebration of young talent as well as a recording of spoken history of the Railway Line by Railway West, Moate.
Dun na Sí Heritage Park will also host a special collection of oral histories while Egan’s Bar in Moate treats visitors and online viewers to live music.
Athlone Library will host an art installation by Mimi Seery, Athlone Castle will stay open late as well as hosting an outdoor performance by Athlone Little Theatre.
While passing the Greenway in Garrycastle, visitors can view the pop-up exhibition of bicycle gallery boxes while there are also exhibitions at Luan Gallery and Abbey Road Artist Studio.