Culture Night at the Marine Institute | Oíche Chultúir ag Foras na Mara

📅 Friday 20th September 2024
🕑 Doors open 18:45
📍  Marine Institute, Rinviille, Oranmore H91 R673

The Marine Institute’s headquarters in Oranmore, Co Galway, will host an evening of marine-themed music, drama, art and poetry from 7pm on Friday 20th September for Culture Night 2024.

Oranmore’s drama group, Bualadh Bos, will perform the one-act play ‘Adrift’ by George Infini. This comedic play centres on three men set adrift at sea after a failed mutiny, who must set aside their differences and await rescue.

The Culture Night programme also includes readings of poetry and prose by the Oranmore Creative Writing Group, and a choral performance from the Marine Singers Choir.

There will be visual art and sculpture on display, such as the exhibition ‘Bringing Ireland’s Wildlife Back to Life’, which combines art and science to raise awareness of the effects of pollution and climate change on seabirds. Artworks about the importance of the ocean to the coastal communities of Ireland and Wales, produced as part of the EU-funded project BlueFish, will also be on show.

Experienced street and documentary photographer, Steve Scott, will also exhibit ‘Lobster Man AKA Frank’ which showcases the life of Frank Flanagan, a local dedicated lobsterman from Rinville, Galway.

Visitors can also view maritime heritage displays such as the Galway Bay Flat Bottom Boat, commissioned by South-East Galway Bay community group, Cuan Beo.

“For centuries, the sea has been a source of inspiration for writers, poets and artists and it still captures our imagination today,” said Dr Rick Officer, CEO of the Marine Institute. “We are delighted to open the Marine Institute’s headquarters in Galway to the public for a special Culture Night programme on September 20th. I’m thrilled with the response of local community groups who have come together to stage an evening of entertainment which will celebrate our maritime heritage through music, literature, visual arts, and performance.”

Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir 2024 will take place on Friday 20th September in cities and towns across the country with 1,700 free events highlighting Ireland’s rich and varied culture. 

The Marine Institute’s headquarters in Rinville, Oranmore, Co Galway (H91 R673) will open to the public at 6.45pm on Friday 20th September 2024. Admission is free and no bookings are required.