Culture Night (Oíche Chultúir) is a national celebration of culture, creativity and the arts, aimed at promoting the rich and diverse cultural heritage cherished in our lives.
Thanks to the continued support of the Arts Council and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, the Wicklow County Arts Office commissioned and collaborated to create an exciting and diverse program of free events and activities across County Wicklow.
Culture Night 2025 was a resounding success, with thousands of people enjoying 51 events in 17 locations throughout the county. The offerings included music, visual art, poetry readings, dance, cultural tours, participatory workshops and much more.
Highlights included a special concert at Germaine’s in Baltinglass with renowned Irish singer-songwriter Paddy Casey, alongside local musicians such as Mark Caplice and Kendal Moody.
Attendees participated in "LightMotion," a spectacular dance workshop at Stratford Lodge, and engaged in botanical art, quilling and filmmaking workshops at Baltinglass Library. Timmin’s Bar offered a dynamic lineup of traditional Irish music, song and storytelling.
In Bray, the Signal Arts Centre, in collaboration with Shaking Bog and The Jam Sessions, presented "Flooded," an imaginative exploration of a future Bray reclaiming land from the sea through guided walks, performances, and print-making, while reflecting on the ancient oak forest that once stood on its shores.
In Wicklow Town, attendees celebrated the launch of a biodiversity garden and wellness remembrance space at Wicklow C.E.A.R.T. The FYI Dance Academy hosted an evening of creative and collaborative dance workshops for young people, and The Barn Ensemble entertained audiences with a performance featuring baroque and traditional Irish music.
In Arklow, the newly opened Arklow Arts Centre presented "Kaleidoscope: A Day of Art, Music, Poetry, Film and Food," a vibrant fusion of visual art, live music, spoken word, short films and culinary creations, showcasing local and emerging talents. Arklow Music & Arts organised the ever-popular "Culture Crawl," guiding participants on a curated trail of cultural hotspots with regular stops for outstanding performances from talented local musicians and singers.
Wicklow Libraries welcomed audiences at their branches in Arklow, Ballywaltrim, Blessington, Bray, Carnew, Enniskerry, Greystones, Rathdrum, Tinahely and Wicklow Town with a varied program of entertainment, which included live music, book readings, poetry, family puppet shows, block printing and more.
The Whale Theatre in Greystones celebrated its reopening weekend with "A Celebration of Music, Rhythm & Storytelling," an eclectic program featuring Irish melodies, folk music and global rhythms that honoured the power of music and storytelling to connect people, places and histories.
Commenting on the events, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Cllr. Melanie Corrigan, stated, “It’s great to see the Culture Night program supporting and promoting local arts, artists, and creativity, providing the community with a wonderful range of free events.”
Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, Emer O’Gorman, noted, “Wicklow County Council is delighted to support a vibrant Culture Night program in Baltinglass for the fourth consecutive year. Wicklow County Arts Office, along with local community members, has produced an innovative and engaging program of events that showcase local artistic and creative talent.”
IMAGES
Image 1: LightMotion, immersive dance experience by Go Dance for Change, in Stratford Lodge, Baltinglass
Image 3: Karen Allison, Lynn Tompson, Emma Robinson and Sharon Doyle, in Baltinglass Library.
Image 5: Suzie Toomey, in Timmins Bar, Baltinglass
Image 6: Saoirse Casey and Paddy Casey, in Germaine’s, Baltinglass
Image 7: Colm Barry and Hilary Healy, in Timmins, Baltinglass