Culture Night Returns to Wicklow on Friday 19th September 2025
A national moment celebrating culture, creativity, and the arts, Culture Night (Oíche Chultúir) seeks to actively promote the rich and varied culture that is treasured and nurtured in people’s lives.
Thanks to the continued support of the Arts Council and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Wicklow County Arts Office has commissioned, collaborated on, and supported an exciting and diverse programme of free events and activities, purposefully selected to open up pathways to creativity in 14 locations across County Wicklow.
Visit Baltinglass on Culture Night for a fun-filled night of music and creativity. Enjoy a special concert in Germaine’s featuring headliner Paddy Casey, along with local musicians and singers, including Mark Caplice and Kendal Moody.
‘Art for the Community’ workshops will take place in Baltinglass Library, featuring botanical art, quilling and film-making. A participatory dance experience, ‘LightMotion’, will take place at Stratford Lodge, where attendees will create a dazzling collective light dance. A dynamic line-up of traditional Irish music, song and story-telling can be enjoyed in Timmins Bar.
The Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray will host ‘The Only Ones’, where local teenage duo Denis Morrissey and Ed Morrissey perform their original rock songs, before ‘An Evening with Rattle and Hum’ delights the audience with musical passion and vitality as they pay tribute to U2.
In Arklow, visit the newly opened Arklow Arts Centre for ‘Kaleidoscope: A Day of Art, Music, Poetry, Film and Food’, a dynamic fusion of visual art, live music, spoken word, short films, and culinary creations, all curated to showcase the diverse talents of local and emerging artists. Also in Arklow, the popular ‘Culture Crawl’ is back, with participants following a curated trail of local cultural hotspots, making regular stop-offs along the way to enjoy the amazing local talent.
Bray Jazz Festival returns to Rathdrum’s St. Saviour’s Church to present ‘Ebb & Flow’, saxophonist Michael Buckley's critically acclaimed quartet.
Signal Arts Centre presents ‘Flooded’, in collaboration with Shaking Bog and The Jam Sessions, imagining a future Bray when the sea has reclaimed her land and reminding us of the old oak forest that once stood on her shores, through performances, guided walks and print-making.
Wicklow Library Services have curated a varied programme at Arklow, Ballywaltrim, Blessington, Bray, Carnew, Enniskerry, Greystones, Rathdrum, Tinahely and Wicklow Town libraries, including:
Ballywaltrim Library – local staff member Robert Butler will present old photos and discuss the famous Arcadia Ballroom, encouraging local stories about the ballroom and its importance.
Enniskerry Library – an evening of cultural serendipity awaits, featuring words, music, and song, as friends of Enniskerry come together to create a memorable evening.
Rathdrum Library – Join puppeteer Julie-Rose McCormick for her Beauty and the Beast Family Puppet Show, a fun and interactive puppet show for the whole family.
Wicklow Town Library – artist and printmaker Susie Fortune hosts a Block Printing Workshop, where you can learn a range of simple block printing techniques before printing your own tote bag.
The Whale Theatre in Greystones will present 'A Celebration of Music, Rhythm & Storytelling', featuring an eclectic programme of Irish melodies, folk music, and global rhythms, honouring 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 programme supporting and promoting local arts, artists and creativity and 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 programme in Baltinglass for the fourth consecutive year. Wicklow County Arts Office, along with members of the local community, has produced an innovative and engaging programme of events that showcase local artistic and creative talent.”
All events are free and booking is advised to avoid disappointment.
See the complete Wicklow Culture Night programme at https://culturenight.ie/location/wicklow/