Leuven, Belgium

Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe hosts Culture Night Leuven 

Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe are delighted  to announce the stellar line up for Culture Night 2011, with a special recital by Niall de Búrca, an exclusive performance of An Rón Dall and an opportunity of a traditional Irish Sessiún. This celebration of Irish culture and heritage is being organised to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of Culture Night, which originated in Templebar, Dublin in 2006 and has extended nationally. The Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe is proud to have been one of the first two international venues in 2010 to celebrate Culture Night, together with the New York Arts Centre. In 2011 the two international venues for Culture Night are the Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe and the London Irish Centre. This free event demonstrates Ireland’s deep and diverse cultural past and its continued impact on the Europe of today. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to experience the best of Irish customs and traditions in the historical heart of the Irish community in Belgium. We hope you can join us on Friday 23rd September at 20.00 and remember to invite anyone who may be interested in the arts and theatre to this eclectic festival of traditional and modern Irish culture.

Niall de Búrca will begin the festivities at 20.00 sharp with traditional Irish storytelling, captivating audiences with his individual narrative and enthusiasm for the Irish culture. The critically acclaimed artist has been recognised for his ability to reach all ages and all nationalities with international performances in Poland, Argentina, Italy and Hawaii. His experiences as an Irish emigrant abroad have had a major influence on his work and his performance style.

This will be followed at 21.00 by a visual theatre show entitled An Rón Dall. It recounts the fate of a domesticated seal at the home of a local fisherman at Renvyle, Connemara. Music, storytelling and live art are used in this show to tell the sad story of the Blind Seal. These effective and evocative blends of live performances have culminated into a breathtaking show with a surprising conclusion. Accompanying the performance is renowned musician Vinnie Kilduff. Over the past three decades from U2 to Sinead O Connor, The Waterboys to Clannad the name Vinnie Kilduff has long been subtly synonymous with the cutting edge of contemporary Irish music. Following this the opportunity will arise for an evening of ‘Craic agus Ceol’ and we invite anyone attending to bring along their musical instrument and join in a traditional Irish Sessiún! Guests will have the opportunity, if they wish, to avail of the Irish bar and catering facilities located within the Institute.

Culture Night Leuven 2011 will also feature an art exhibition by local Irish artists whose creative flare and imagination have produced watercolours and canvasses that are thought provoking and eye catching. Fiona O’Farrell, an Irish artist living in Belgium, draws inspiration for her painting from her surroundings and from other impressionist painters.

Teresa Fitzgerald, another celebrated painter, challenges her viewers to let their imaginations run loose into her abstract compositions. The art exhibition will take place throughout the evening and guests will have the opportunity to meet Fiona O’Farrell and Teresa Fitzgerald and discuss their thoughts and inspirations behind each canvas.

For more information log on to: www.leuveninstitute.eu

Culture Night is an initiative co-ordinated by Temple Bar Cultural Trust and supported by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in partnership with the regional arts offices and local authorities throughout Ireland. www.culturenight.ie