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Press release

Office of Public Works celebrates Culture Night 2023

The Office of Public Works (OPW) will once again be a proud participant in Culture Night this Friday, 22 September.

A number of OPW sites and properties around the country will be hosting a diverse range of events for the annual all-island celebration of culture this Friday.

The OPW is responsible for maintaining and presenting some of Ireland’s most famous historic properties, 780 national monuments and over 2,000 acres of parkland.

There is a broad programme of events at OPW sites that will give people a chance to connect with their history and heritage as well as enjoy a fun evening exploring the treasures on their doorstep.

Rosemary Collier, Head of Heritage Services and Capital Works Delivery said:

“The OPW is proud of its role in preserving and presenting many icons of our national heritage and is delighted once again to participate in Culture Night. Initiatives like these give people from all walks of life the opportunity to connect with our national heritage and fosters a sense of unity and belonging. It also offers the OPW the opportunity to connect and engage with new audiences that might not previously have availed of these treasures on their doorstep.”

A sample of the events on offer include a bike disco for all the family in the Phoenix Park; a concert drawing on the Irish bardic tradition and classical repertoire in Ormond Castle, Carrick-on-Suir; enjoy popular tunes of the 16th and 17th centuries along with a tour of the period rooms in Kilkenny Castle.

For full details of the OPW-hosted programme visit the following link: https://culturenight.ie/office-of-public-works-on-culture-night/

Due to capacity issues, booking is essential for some events.

For further information, please contact pressoffice@opw.ie

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Notes

Some of the events taking place at OPW sites

  • take a wander through the Liffey’s quays to Custom House, one of Ireland’s most impressive architectural feats, and count the 14 heads of the river gods on the building’s famous exterior. Designed by the architect James Gandon in the eighteenth century, Custom House is an integral site in Ireland’s history, from its use during the 1916 rising, to its burning in 1921. Participants are invited to take a free After Hours Tour of Custom House Visitor Centre, to discover more about the building’s political significance and the critical events that took place there, which changed the course of Ireland’s history. https://culturenight.ie/event/after-hours-tour-custom-house-visitor-centre/
  • Kilkenny Castle invites music and history enthusiasts to Upstairs, Downstairs: Popular Tunes of the 16th and 17th Century. Discover the songs and melodies enjoyed by inhabitants of both the main and servant quarter of a grand home. The evening is led by Laoise O’Brien (recorders) and Malcolm Proud (harpsichord), seasoned musicians who have performed with the Irish Baroque Orchestra, Resurgam and Sestina. The performance will be staggered, so that guests may explore the castle’s other period rooms during their visit. https://culturenight.ie/event/upstairs-downstairs-popular-tunes-of-the-16th-and-17th-centuries/
  • the Gallarus Oratory is an ancient church set in the landscape of the Dingle Peninsula for over 1000 years. A special event organised for Culture Night 2023 will see it come to life through an outdoor light display by artist, Tim Schmelzer. An exciting animation exploring light, colours and sounds will be projected onto the Gallarus Oratory and repeat every 10minutes. Transport from Dingle town is available through a special shuttle service organised by Local Links. The shuttle will depart the Quay bus stop opposite Supervalu in Dingle at 8:15pm and run every 20-25minutes. This event is made possible through the support of the Arts Council of Ireland, Kerry County Council, Éalain na Gaeltachta, OPW, Local Links, and the Gallarus Oratory Visitor Centre. https://culturenight.ie/event/late-at-gallarus-oratory-imeacht-deanach-i-ngallarus/
  • for anyone interested in neoclassical architecture, the Casino Marino Tour in Dublin offers visitors the opportunity to explore one of the finest homes of its type in Europe. Built in the late-eighteenth century as a pleasure house for the 1st Earl of Charlemont, James Caulfield, the building is adorned with intricate carved stonework and sculpture reminiscent of a Greek temple. Depictions of Roman gods such as Apollo, Bacchus and Venus, as well as ornamental urns and ox-heads populate the casino’s impressive exterior. Take a tour at 16.30, 18.00 or 19.00 to discover more. https://culturenight.ie/event/casino-marino-tour/