By Michelle Crawley
ON Friday, 19 September, Culture Night will be celebrated across the country and there will be no shortage of free events taking place in Mullingar to suit all interests.
Whether you are a fishing enthusiast, have a passion for art, a deep love of history, or like to tap the foot to the beat of marching bands or traditional players, Culture Night in Mullingar has plenty to offer all the family.
MUSIC
The Midlands Youth Orchestra will return to Mullingar once again on Culture Night when they give a thrilling performance in the Atrium Space of the County Buildings between 6.30pm and 7.30pm. The Kinnegad based orchestra provides young people from across the midlands an opportunity to perform together under conductor Vincent Hunt. Keeping the music alive and well in Mullingar will be Mullingar Town Band who will be performing on the Market Square between 7pm and 7.30pm. Sweet Tunes Active Retirement Choir will also be performing a selection of their favourites at Mullingar Arts Centre during the evening.
Keeping on the music trail, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann will be promoting Irish traditional music on Culture Night with music, storytelling, song and dance at Seisiún Lá Cultúra at Áras an Mhuilinn between 8.30pm and 10pm.
FISHING EXHIBITION
This year there will be an interesting exhibition in Mullingar Library on the art of fly fishing and fly tying. The angling exhibition will be given by well-known Lough Ennell fisherman, John O’Malley, and will take place during the day.
ART & PHOTOGRAPHY
Mullingar Camera Club’s annual exhibition will be mounted in the Atrium in Áras an Chontae, featuring over 50 photographs taken by club members. National acclaimed local artist, Anna Marie Leavy, will be painting live from 5pm until 7pm at the Chimera Gallery, Mullingar.
LOCAL HISTORY
Local historian, Ruth Illingworth, will be giving an insightful tour of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, which will focus on the links between the Cathedral and Mullingar’s art, literary and musical heritage. Ruth Illingworth will be showing pictures of choirs and pointing out famous Mullingar musicians, who began their musical careers singing in the Cathedral. She will also be looking at the beautiful mosaics in the Cathedral and will be talking to the public about Boris Anrep’s mosaics, giving particular emphasis to the St. Anne’s mosaic on show in the Cathedral of Christ the King. This one hour tour will begin at 4pm and is free for all interested parties.
Later in the day, at 7pm, Ruth will be giving a literary walking tour of the town where she will focus on the literary history of Mullingar, mentioning James Joyce, William Carelton, Jonathan Swift, Josephine Hart and many more wonderful writers with local connections. The tour will visit places mentioned in Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’.
For more information about the tour contact 087 9472583.
