Bubbling over with delight at this feast of culture
Declan Cashin previews some of the weird and wacky events that make up this year's Culture Night
Boy in the bubble: Declan Cashin at the TCD Science Gallery.
Tonight, culture vultures will be in their element as hundreds of venues in 11 cities around the country throw open their doors -- and keep them open way past closing time -- for the annual extravaganza that is Culture Night.
Just about every taste, whim and interest is catered for, ranging from the serious and the high brow, to the wacky and purely silly. Best of all, nearly every event is free, and transport is provided in most cities to shuttle people between different venues.
One such option available tonight is the Bubble Exhibition in the Science Gallery in Trinity College Dublin. I popped along for a preview yesterday, and within minutes, my whole body was enclosed in a giant bubble. I was like a child again, and in fact I kept hogging the space at the expense of a group of visiting school kids. Why should they have all the fun?
I also got the chance to create light and sound simply by blowing a bubble using the incredible 'Soaper-Sonic' installation. The boffins tell me that every tune created is unique, based on the colours of the bubble. I'll take their word for it.
Here are a few more of the weird and wacky options on offer:
Dublin
-- Voyage to the Stars: Broadcaster Leo Enright and composer Iarla O'Lionard team up to present a world premiere of images from the newly repaired Hubble Space Telescope. The views will be screened in high definition -- naturally -- in Meeting House Square from midnight to 1am.
-- Silent disco in BT2: Two DJs battle it out in the window of BT2 on Grafton Street, so you can grab a pair of headphones in store and dance to your favourite one.
-- Revenue Museum: You can explore the history of taxation -- that curse of the working (wo)man -- in its glorious forms from medieval times in Ireland to the present day. It turns out even Saint Patrick collected annual taxes or tributes from kings and chieftains around the country. The museum is located in the Lower Yard of Dublin Castle (Crypt of the Chapel).
-- Oh La La, Begorrah: Historian Pat Liddy will take followers on a walking tour through Dublin's forgotten French heritage and revolutionary connections. Meet Pat at Barnardo Square (beside City hall) at 5pm.
Cork
-- Thrilla: Culture Night gives a shout-out to the late Wacko Jacko by inviting people to unleash their inner zombie at the Cork Vision Centre (8.15pm -- 9.30pm, pre-booking essential). Slap on the face-paint or wear masks and dance to Jackson's 'Thriller', amongst other tracks, provided by DJ Sé-K
Kerry
-- Dancing in the Street, Tralee: Irish dancers should high-kick their way to Denny Street in an attempt to claim the Guinness World Record for the largest Irish dance ever held, a record that currently rests with a town called Dublin in Ohio, in the US. From 7pm to 11pm.
Sligo
-- Sliglow -- Draw on the City: Grab a glow marker and glow stick and decorate the Glasshouse building, which will be covered in neon and glow-in-the-dark colours. Music and art-making kicks off at 7pm, and at 10pm the venue's lights go out for a final view of the sculpture.
Roscommon
-- Living Room Céilís: Six members from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE) will host a céilí in the living rooms of their own homes. All you have to do is contact the local Comhaltas branch member to book your spot at their céilí and get directions to their house.
All Culture Night details are on www.culturenight.ie
- Declan Cashin
