Wicklow

From Tinahely to Avoca and Bray to Blessington, Greystones and beyond you will find the finest events and cultural happenings throughout the county. This year is also special as 2011 marks the Year of Craft,so you will find opportunities to meet the makers of several crafts and also for young and old to participate in craft workshops.All are welcome, however we would particularly like to encourage and welcome those who may never have attended a cultural event in their local area, drop in and see what is on offer, many of the events are on a drop in basis with no pre-booking required.On behalf of Wicklow Local Authorities and the national and local project partners, I would like to thank all of the cultural, historic and community organisations listed in this brochure who  have given us the opportunity to represent the county and the wealth of potential we have to offer.We hope you enjoy – and remember it is all for free!

Jenny SherwinArts OfficerWicklow County Council

This is County Wicklow’s second year to take part in the national Culture Night event. Whether you enjoy talks on historical buildings, music, dance, art or craft we have something to suit all tastes. This is a wonderful opportunity to try something new and be amazed at the wealth of creativity and culture that is on your doorstep all year round.Each participating organisation, artist and institution has their details contained within this brochure, why not register on their mailing list for updates on what they have to offer through-out the year.

BRAY

Meet the Makers at KillrudderyCraft exhibitions and demonstrations
The Orangery and other locations,Killruddery House, Southern Crossroad, Bray
From 12.00pm until 8.00pm (No entry charge to Killruddery Gardens & CraftExhibition) Killruddery House & Gardens open their doorsagain this year for Culture Night in association with Wicklow County Council and offeryou a unique opportunity to meet Wicklow Craftworkers and view their works in the beautiful backdrop of the Orangery.

Featured craft workers:

• Carol Smith – Millinery www.carolsmithhats.com
• Cillian Johnston – Furniture www.cjfurniture.ie
• Christien Van Bussel – Ceramics
• AMOC – Anne Mette O’Connor – Jewellery www.amoc.ie
• Jenny Kelly – Ceramics www.jennykellypottery.ie
• Sarah McGahon – Millinery www.sarahmcgahon.com

Free Craft Workshops for children in Killruddery
Pottery for fun – a workshop for children
Studio beside the walled garden,Killruddery
3.30pm – 4.30pm
To avoid disappointment free tickets can be reserved from 01 2877679 or culturenightwicklow@gmail.com
Come along and make your own unique piece of pottery with ceramic artist Christien Van Bussel.This is a workshop for children up to 13 year sand under 6 year olds must be accompanied by an adult. Use plaster moulds to make and decorate a bowl or mask of air drying clay which can be brought home on the day. There may also be an opportunity to try the potter’s wheel, so be prepared for a muddy experience! Being an experienced teacher Christien will make sure the workshop is instructive and enjoyable. Mum or Dad can join in too if they like!

Hats! – a free workshop for children and adults
The Orangery, Killruddery House
4.00pm – 5.00pm
Only suitable for children aged 7 years and over
Limited capacity to book a place please phone01 2877679 or emailculturenightwicklow@gmail.com
Meet Milliner Carol Smith in the Orangery and tryout your skills at designing and making your own head piece in this one hour workshop.Milliner Carol Smith also teaches techniques in millinery for creating elaborate and stylish headpieces from start to finish at her studios inClara Vale near Rathdrum. During her one-dayworkshop Carol introduces you to skills on how todesign your creation, pattern making, assembling a head piece and how to embellish and decorate the finished piece. Alternatively you can bring some ofyour old hats and learn how to re-vamp them into more modern pieces.www.carolsmithhats.com

Killruddery House & Gardens
Home to the Brabazon family (The Earl ofMeath) since 1618, Killruddery House is the most successful Elizabethan-revival mansion in Ireland.The house is situated on vast beautiful gardens often used as the backdrop to movies such as‘Lassie’, ‘The Tudors’ and more recently ‘Camelot’.The gardens also features Garden Tearooms and a recently restored walled garden. Killruddery is a hidden gem, right on your doorstep.www.killruddery.ie

The Town with No Stories
Puppet Show
Bray Library, Eglington Road
3.30pm and 4.15pm
No need to book, just come along
Presented by Wicklow County Library Service
This story unashamedly champions the cause of the storybook – in a land where the Mayor has banned all books for children, a young boy stumbles upon ‘Booky Wooky’ hiding on the empty shelves of the local library… and the adventure starts there.

Femme Fatale – Exhibition byartist Roisín Verdon
Signal Arts Centre, 1 Albert Walk, Bray
10.00am – 10.00pm
Presented by Signal Arts Centre
Roisín Verdon is an artist from Bray, Co. Wicklow,who has exhibited widely. She is a graduate of Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology with a BA Hons in Visual Arts Practice. Her work focuses mainly on paintings of film stills chosen in order to convey particular concepts and ideologies. She uses films as a source for reference and imagery. She has also recently expanded into writing film reviews. Following on with her love for film and content,“Femme Fatale” is a collection of work based on the modern day deadly women of the screen. In homage to the classic Film Noir of the 50’s, she has produced a personal selection of painted scenes from films demonstrating the continuation of the legacy that is inherent to the alternative woman.

In-house Taster Workshops
Signal Arts Centre, 1 Albert Walk
4.00pm – 8.00pm
No need to book, just drop in.
Presented by Signal Arts Centre
Signal Arts Centre will open its studios and workrooms to the public for the duration of Culture Night. As well as being able to talk to and meet with artists in their place of work, there will also be taster workshops within the centre.

Croí 8 – Multi-Media Group Show
St. Cronan’s, Main Street
3.00pm – 9.00pm
Presented by Signal Arts Centre
Croí 8 is a pop-up artists collective initiated by Signal. Using their resourcefulness and creativity Croí 8 will openly respond to a given space in the centre of the town on theme of “culture is at the heart of a community”. Over 8 days the collective will create an exciting exhibition incorporating traditional and multi-media disciplines.Signal Arts Centre is the oldest independent arts centre in Wicklow County, set up by artists to provide a practical work & exhibition space where communities, artists, and the general public could meet, work, train and create in both a formal community development and informal creative contexts.www.signalartscentre.ie

The History of Bray Town Hall and its Stained Glass Windows
Directly followed by a guitar recital by Eamon Sweeney Venue Bray Town Hall
5.30pm(free tickets available from Bray Tourist Office, Bray Town Council Mon-Sat)

Mermaid Arts Centre Presents
Main Auditorium Mermaid Arts Centre
8.00pm
For free admission tickets please contact the Mermaid Box office
Mermaid is privileged to offer its audiences a taste of the best Ireland has to offer. We will open our doors for you, your family and friends to enjoy a  free taste of our programme with a kaleidoscope of performances, with theatre by Fishamble – TheNew Play Company, dance by Cois Ceim and music by The Crash Ensemble.These three leading Irish companies have each enthralled audiences at Mermaid in their concerts, productions and shows. Now you can sample the performances that make Mermaid Special on this fabulous free night of culture.

Laugh the Night Away
Martello, Bray Seafront
0.00pm
Free admission tickets available fromThe Martello, Seafront, Bray
Presented by The Martello, Bray in association with Bray Comedy Club
To round off Culture Night we are inviting youto a free comedy event featuring well known comedians Colm O’Regan and Bernard O’Shea.Both Colm and Bernard have appeared in the prestigious invite only Montreal ‘Just for Laughs’and the ‘Kilkenny Cat Laughs’ among other performances, many on national television.www.braycomedy.ie

 

KILLMACANOGUE

Family Jewels
Geoffrey Healy Pottery Studio, RockyValley, Kilmacanogue
12.00pm and throughout the weekend
Geoffrey will be launching an exhibition of his new work especially for Culture Night. The glazes used on Geoffrey’s new range have a wonderful jewel like quality. Geoffrey’s philosophy is to make works that nourish at a deep level while pursuing an energetic beauty. Geoffrey studied his craft in the UK and Japan,before setting up his studio in his home county of Wicklow in 1992. He has exhibited at the Common Earth Ceramics Exhibition, The Museum of Modern Art and is a regular exhibitor at Showcase ~ Ireland’s premier craft industry exhibition. Each collection of pottery reflects a deep felt pool of inspiration from which Geoffrey draws his designs, shapes and creativity.www.healy-pottery.com

 

GREYSTONES

Hi Viz
Greystones Theatre & Studios, TheatreLane
3.00pm until 10.00pm
Presented by Greystones Theatre & Studios
A celebration of local film makers and photography, with a series of short films and anew photography exhibition. Drop in at any time,films start rolling from 3.00pm onwards.Greystones Theatre and Studios is a local arts facility over 4 floors containing a theatre and event space, professional dance studios, music studios, rehearsal rooms, recording studio, gallery space, and state of the art photography studio.The facility offers classes in all arts discipline and space for hire for teachers, groups and forall types of events. Call 01 2871755 or email info@greystonestheatre.com

Wicklow on your doorstep
Photography Exhibition
The Burnaby Lounge, Church Road
All day and continuing until 2ndOctober
Based in Bray Co. Wicklow, Shay Colgan Specialises in commercial photography and has a passion for landscape photography. The beautyand wonder of our surroundings are captured by Shay’s camera in a wonderful collection of images from far and wide. Over the past ten years Shay has managed to capture a wonderful collection of local and countrywide landscape scenes throughout the seasons.Contact Shay at 086 1728558or shay@digitaltechnique.ie orBurnaby@byrnegroup.com

Ghostly Tree Creatures of Greystones
From the corner of Bellevue Road& Church Road towards St. Patrick’sChurch
From 3.00pm onwards
Presented by Greystones Art GroupWatch out for Tree Creatures only visibleat night. These creatures were created byGreystones Art Group and are creatively madefrom re-cycled materials, solar powered lightsand luminous paint. The Greystones Art Group has been established for 46 years and has 100 active professional andsemi-professional visual artists as members. The main purpose of the Greystones Art Groupis to advance education in the visual arts andto promote visual arts within Greystones anddistrict through exhibitions, demonstrations,field trips for practical instruction and art competition among local schools and to benefitthe community of Greystones and surrounding areas by providing financial assistance to local charitable institutions.www.greystonesartgroup.com

 

An Evening with Author ClaireKeegan
Venue Greystones Library, Mill Road
7.30pm
Admission is free but tickets must be pre-booked through Greystones Library01 2873548Presented by Wicklow County Library Service

Fire & Light
Greystones Harbour
8.00pm
Presented by Greystones Arts Festival with Fire & Light and featuring Greystones Orchestra
Don’t miss this wonderful spectacular event, come along and experience the Music, FireShows, Lanterns and Fireworks. Then call intothe Beach House or Dann’s Bar afterwards for more live music.

Siamsa Ceoltóirí
Dann’s Bar, The Harbour
9.30pm until late
Presented by Coolin and Siamsa Fhéile Pádraig
Featuring Coolin, a local band founded over tenyears ago with musicians from Greystones and Kilcoole. For Culture Night, we will also have musicians from Siamsa Fhéile Pádraig and other musicians and singers are very welcome to come along and join in.

 

WICKLOW TOWN

Kilmantin Gallery
Kilmantin Gallery, Bridge Street,Wicklow
5.00pm – 8.00pm
Presented by Kilmantin Arts
Kilmantin Arts invite you to call in and view their wonderful craftwork and art exhibition. Wicklow Writer’s Group will also be present to give recitals throughout the evening – so well worth a visit!Kilmantin Art Gallery is a co-op gallery run byits members. The gallery and art book shop is onBridge Street, Wicklow.

Ceol, Damhsa agus Craic
The Boathouse, beside the Leitrim Lounge, Seafront Wicklow
8.00pm – 10.30pm
Presented by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
Join us for a night of dancing, music and song. If you ever wanted to try out set-dancing then this is your chance! For Culture Night we are offeringfree instruction on Céili and set dancing followed by a traditional Irish music session with song and dance. We will also provide a free introduction to Irish musical instruments – so come along and have a night to remember. Light refreshments will be served.

 

ARKLOW

Arklow Youth Art Show – launch
Arklow Visual Arts Gallery,
6.30pm – 8.30pm (this exhibition willremain open for a further two weeks)
Presented by Arklow Visual Arts Centre
Call in and see the wonderful art on display which is the culmination of three months’ work by thirty children from 6-16 years old, created during art classes at the Arts Centre. The work is vibrant, eclectic, fun and varied. The show will be offering mixed media and theme based work created according to each groups experience under the facilitation of the two in house art teachers.

RATHDRUM

 

Avondale House –Charles Stewart Parnell Museum
avondale House, Rathdrum
5.00pm – 7.30pm
Visit Avondale – The home of the Uncrowned King of Ireland Charles Stewart Parnell. Enjoy the award winning Audio visual presentation on the History of Parnell and Avondale and tour this interesting and historical House. Contact 0404 46111. www.coillteoutdoors.ieNote Last admission to House one hour before closing. The Kitchen Cafe will beopen until 7 pm.

 

AVOCA

Conary Culture Crawl
Start at the Hall in Conary and move on
8.00pm
Presented by Conary Community Arts
A travelling cultural experience with music,drama and a few surprises. Meet at the Hall at 8.00pm and prepare to move on to various local venues for a taste of culture Conary style! This Culture Crawl was so successful last year that we decided to do it again!

 

TINAHELY

Story Bear – Puppet Show
Courthouse Arts Centre
5.30pm
Story Bear loves stories, and helps puppeteer Niamh Lawlor tell and draw you one, if youpromise to help! An intimate, interactive story telling session suitable for a family audience(7 – 9 year olds – ideal age group) from awardwinning Púca Puppets.www.pucapuppets.com

Caroline Moreau
Courthouse Arts Centre
9.00pm
Free admission: 0402 38529
Presented by the Courthouse Arts Centre French chanteuse Caroline Moreau performsa gutsy and vibrant new show which will seeMoreau apply her powerful vocal sensibility to arange of fascinating and eclectic material – some new, some familiar – which she will sing in bothEnglish and French.

Sheep Flock to Tinahely
ll around the town
From 3.00pm onwards
Presented by Tinahely Arts Together
In Spring 2011, TAG launched a public artproject- The Tinahely Sheep Flock which is madeup of 28 sheep and lambs, all constructed of sheet metal and featuring unique and innovative decoration, design and enhancement. Thesesheep have been out and about on the roads,walks and public areas all summer and were evenfeatured on RTE’s ‘Nationwide’. Especially for Culture Night 2011, it is planned to bring theflock back together again in the centre of town,as a focal point for cultural activities for theweekend. Members of the public will be invited to participate in workshops to customise theirown – wearable – sheep designed tee-shirt. TAGwill have an arts and crafts market, featuringstalls of ceramics, glassware, jewellery, textilesand gift ideas. Other Culture Night activitiesincluding artist-led workshops and an exhibitionwill take place.

 

BLESSINGTON

Experience 250 years of history,art and fun at Russborough– where community matters.
Russborough House
Free House Tours from 4.00pm- 10.00pm
Craft Studios and galleriesopen all day.
Presented by Russborough House & localcommunity groups
In addition to free guided tours of the mostbeautiful house in Ireland- Russborough, the resident artists & craft workers will have their studios and galleries open demonstrating “how it’s done” as well as showcasing new work. Also featuring local arts & crafts group Cruthú.
At Russborough we have an inspired group of craft-workers who explore old Irish traditions in a truely unique setting.Artisans will be sharing their secrets with us all with the courtyard at Russborough converted into a small cultural village. From blacksmithing to weaving; woodturning to candle making; silversmithing to song, you can come and learn these old traditions for yourself.

Blessington Cultural Showcase
Blessington Library
7.00pm
Enjoy poetic contributions from local writers and dramatic readings with Blessington Youth Musical and Drama Society. This event was so well received last year, we decided to run it again this year too!

Blessington and Beyond
A celebration of international and local musical talent
Tramway Theatre, ajoining St.Mary’s Senior National School
8.30pm
Free tickets available from the Theatre and local outlets or phone 086 0752072
Presented by Tramway Theatre Committee
A night you should not miss. On the programmetonight especially for Culture Night are: PhilCallery International recording singer, who has guested on albums with artists such as SineadO’Connor, Christy Hennessey, Jimmy McCarthy. Rachel Conlon and Alan Reid are traditional musicians, studying at National Academy ofMusic Univ. of Limerick, recently touring inSweden, Norway and Canada. Also appearingare the Millennium Choir, Blessington Youth Musical & Dramatic Society, BlessingtonMusical & Dramatic Society, Kilbride & LakesideBand under Colm O’Hara and ‘Just Dandy’.Tramway Theatre is a locally run theatre served by a dedicated and enthusiastic committee.Tramway Theatre offers local communitygroups access to this wonderful facility and also programmes regular musical and dramatic eventsby touring musicians and theatre groups.www.blessingtoninfo/tramway-theatre/index.php