Towns and cities across the country are gearing up to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Ireland’s annual cultural extravaganza, Culture Night, as it returns on Friday 18th September. From museums, galleries, libraries and theatres to cathedrals, parks and government buildings, venues from Dublin to off-shore islands will throw open their doors for FREE tours, workshops, readings, performances and demonstrations for all the family. This year Culture Night, with the theme ‘Revolves Around You’, will have the biggest number of participating locations of 40 across the island of Ireland.
Here is the listing of the food highlights:
- Downstairs Dublin – The Irish Times are once again curating and creating talks, architectural ideas, installations, foodie fun, gardens, a give-away library, projections and pop up events for a truly unique experience in the heart of Georgian Dublin. The food highlight for this year is ‘Soundbites’, a tantalising taste experience where as well as food, the menu will include topics of conversation. Participants will eat with a stranger and be led through a number of different questions and topics during the meal. It’s a chance to meet someone new, explore and engage, perhaps learn a little something – and eat something delicious of course!
- Afra- Eorpach – Afra-Eorpach present a Cultural Food Cooking Tutorial. Learn how to make well-known dishes from the African Continent. Taste some of the food samples, and enjoy some African music. www.meetup.com/Afro-European-Exploration-Meet-up/
- Airfield Estate – Take a tour of the house and delve into the Overend family archive. Sample some Airfield recipes from the Overends restaurant Chef, and even have the chance to taste Airfield’s own jersey herd milk. www.airfield.ie
- Teeling Whiskey Distillery – The first new distillery to open its doors in Dublin in over 125 years, the Teeling Whiskey Distillery is the ultimate destination for all whiskey fans from both home and abroad. Visitors on Culture Night will learn how the latest generation of Teelings in Jack and Stephen are carrying on the family’s legacy which originally began in 1782 with Walter Teeling opening a craft distillery on Marrowbone Lane in the Liberties area of Dublin. www.teelinghistory.com
- Bluefire on Smithfield Sq – On the eve of their annual Festival, BlueFire are delighted to bring their Smithfield Summer Picnics to Culture Night, but with a twist. Bask in the glow of candlelight, enjoy live music, performances and workshops. Pack some delicious treats and join the fun on Smithfield Square for an evening under the stars! www.bluefiredublin.ie
- Mendicity Institution – Visit Dublin’s oldest working charity and taste the food served to the paupers of Dublin in the nineteenth century. Enjoy delicious homemade soup with artisan breads from local bakery Mannings and watch costumed re- enactments of the society at work in the bad old days. www.mendicity.org
- Rick Stein at Hodges Figgis – Dublin
Chef, restaurateur, cookery book author and television presenter Rick Stein will be in conversation with Newstalk’s Henry McKean in Hodges Figgis Dawson Street between 6 and 6.30pm. www.facebook.com/hodges.figgis
- L’Attitude 51 – Cork
This is a follow-on event from last year’s hugely successful Wine Geese: The Next Generation event. Visitors on Culture Night can enjoy a virtual tasting which involves Irish winemakers around the world skyping into L’Atitude 51 from their respective locations for a virtual wine tasting. Dermot Sugrue of Wiston Estate, West Sussex; Marian Smith of Elgin Ridge, South Africa and Fleur McCree of Little Beauty, New Zealand joined the participants via skype on a big screen to talk through their wines, which were poured for participants in L’Atitude 51. www.latitude51.ie
- Franciscan Well Brewery – Cork
Experience Cork’s Craft Beer Culture with a short brewery tour and beer tasting at the Franciscan Well Brewery. See how beer is made, learn about homebrewing and master the art of beer tasting…and some food pairing. www.franciscanwellbrewery.com
- A Plate of Mungret – Limerick
Join us for a taste of traditional Mungret food, beautifully presented on old-time ware. We’ll start by re-enacting the Irish myth of the Salmon of Knowledge. Once cooked, try the salmon on brown bread and see if you have gained all the world’s knowledge! There’ll be home-baked breads and cakes, smothered in creamy butter with a dollop of berry jam. Copious mugs of strong tea for the adults and home-made juice for the young ones. Veteran gravedigger Patsy McCarthy will regale us with tales of the weird and wonderful things that Irish people like to bury with their loved ones
The full programme of events and participating venues for Culture Night 2015 is available on www.culturenight.ie
