Culture Night/Oíche Chultúir is a national moment, celebrating culture, creativity and the arts.
It seeks to actively promote the belief that this rich and varied culture is alive, treasured and nurtured in people’s lives, today and every day.
Laois had a broad spectrum of events to enliven the county happening until late on Friday.
There were a range of events taking place on Friday in Portarlington.
Mary Slevin, Artist, was delighted to welcome adults and children to her art studio at Mount Henry to explore print making using everyday material.
Street Art from artists ADW; DMC; KIN MX; Zurdie; KLOW! And Myfanwy Nia created during the Forest Fest in Emo which will bring colour and vibrancy to the hoardings around the Market House was on show.
There was also be a presentation by local illustrator David Butler on the illustrated life of Michael Collins, produced in collaboration with writer Mario Corrigan.
There was music from the Port Concert Band, Ukrainian Choir and Georgian Folk Group. While award winning Laois poet Pat Boran read from his work.
In Mountmellick, Emer Dunne & Folk Threads performed at The Balcony Theatre, Mountmellick Community Arts Centre.
Mountmellick Arts Collective also hosted an evening of art, poetry, film, fiction, memoir and music.
The Gallery in Mountmellick library hosted Laois Artist Hazel Restrick’s exhibition Navigation, a captivating multimedia exhibition that delves into the artist’s quest to find her place in the world.
A graduate of Limerick School of Art and Design, her work explores the profound connections between these spaces and our inherent sense of belonging.
It all finished with an evening of Traditional Irish Music by children and adults from Mountmellick Comhalatas Group.
Photographer Jeff Harvey was present in Portarlington.
While Denis Byrne was in both Mountmellick and Borris-In-Ossory.
Check out their pictures below:
Culture Night in Portarlington
Anna Shemerliuk, Taisa Turenko, Yana Kryshtalska, Liudmyla Yarosh and Alisa Turenko in the Parochial Hall for entertainment at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyAntje Herzog and Elke Wyse in the Parochial Hall for entertainment at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyPrintmaker Leonie Connellan, photographer Frank Smith, artist Nora Gannon and artist Seamus Duggan in the French Quarter at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyUkrainian choir in the Parochial Hall for entertainment at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyMC Adam Cullen introducing the band Thanks Mom at the Anvil Inn at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyZhanna Bondarenko enjoying in the Parochial Hall for entertainment at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyThe scene at the Parochial Hall with Port Concert Band playing in the Parochial Hall for entertainment at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyMartha Szczot, photographer Iwona K Tiernan and Anna Kasongo at Iwona’s Studio at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington Museum during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyMusician Kimberly Melia, MC Michael Craeagh, photographer Iwona K Tiernan, printmaker Leonie Connellan and artist Catherine Terrett at Iwona’s Studio at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington Museum during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyKai and Maryann Dixon at Iwona’s Studio at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington Museum during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyMarlena Gavin, Yeva Uminska and Zara Craig at the Port Art Collective art crawl for all-ages, cultural extravaganza showcasing Street Art from artists ADW; DMC; KIN MX; Zurdie; KLOW! And Myfanwy Nia created during the Forest Fest in Emo bringing colour and vibrancy to the hoardings around the Market House which is currently undergoing an ambitious renovation by Laois County Council, pictured during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyThe scene at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington Museum during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyDavid Orford speaking at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington Museum during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyIwona with her husband Eoin and children Gabiella, Amy, Amelia and Myke at Iwona’s Studio at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington Museum during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyArtist Catherine Terrett with her mother Margaret and brother David Terrett at Iwona’s Studio at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington Museum during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyLaura Tully and Alexandra Kelly talking with milner Sinead Harrington at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington Library during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyRita O’Loughlin demonstrating at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington Library during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyMilner Sinead Harrington with her children Ruairi and Lyra at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington Library during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyMark and Marlena Gavin at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington Library during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff HarveyMC Michael Craeagh and illustrator David Butler speaking at Portarlington Library at the Port Art Crawl in Portarlington Library during Culture Night and brought to you by The Arts Council in partnership with Laois County Council and supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme. Picture: Jeff Harvey
Culture Night Mountmellick and Borris In Ossory
A toast for Culture Night 2023 from Noreen Uí Laighin and Betty Gorman Photo Denis ByrneEnjoying the Culture Night Festivities at Mountmellick Library were Dan Bergin and Paddy Buggy Laois P.P.N Chair Photo Denis Byrne
Seamus Sharkey Kelly with Friend at Mountmellick Library Photo Denis ByrneArtist Hazel Restrick with Oliva Murray Library Assistant and Amanda Hyland, Mountmellick Library Manager on Culture Night 2023 Photo Denis ByrneTom, Joe and Eoghan Claffey enjoying Culture Night at Mountmellick Library Photo Denis ByrneA.C Reynolds and Andrew DunneKathleen and Margaret Culliton dance with Sharkey Kelly and friend at the Culture Night Festivities held at Mountmellick Library Photo Denis ByrneTona Redmond
Liadan C. FennellMargaret Culliton performing with Mountmellick Comhaltas on Culture Night Photo Denis ByrneMusican Eamon Moran performing at Mountmellick Community Arts Centre Photo Denis ByrneArtist for Culture Night 2023 at Mountmellick, Hazel Restrick exhibits her work at Mountmellick Library Art Gallery Photo Denis ByrneEmer Dunne performs her New Album Folk Threads for Culture Night at Mountmellick Community Arts Centre Photo Denis ByrneDearbhla C. Fennell
