Durrus writer Alice to be ambassador for Culture Night

THIS year’s Cork County’s Culture Night Ambassador is Durrus-based writer and diarist, Alice Carey.  

Alice divides her life between Manhattan, where she was born and bred, and West Cork, where she and her husband, Geoffrey Knox, bought and renovated a house in Durrus some years ago. 

Alice feels honoured to have been asked to be this year’s ambassador: ‘Being a blow-in from cultural Manhattan, I love exploring cultural county Cork.’

The annual public event that celebrates culture, creativity and the arts, takes place on Friday, September 22nd. Arts, cultural organisations, and venues of all shapes and sizes around the county will extend their opening hours until late, to allow people to explore special events, art, music and performances – all free of charge.

Alice said: ‘There’s something for everyone on the night. In my own neck of the woods, Skibbereen’s West Cork Arts Centre is a haven for contemporary visual art, with classes for children and adults alike. Out on Beara, there’s Hungary Hill Writing. Culture abounds all around the county, even in your own village or town. Take advantage of it.’

Other highlights include the Culture Dome in Clonakilty, live music from the likes of Steve Poltz in Ballydehob and history talks on Whiddy Island. 

Meanwhile, Cork City Hall will be transformed into a cinema on the night. 

The venue’s concert hall wil host a special screening of the eagerly-awaited movie Maze, which is hitting cinemas that night. Inspired by the true events of the infamous 1983 prison breakout of 38 IRA prisoners from HMP, this  film features Love Hate’s Tom Vaughan Lawlor and will  followed by a Q&A with director Stephen Burke, cast and crew.

The city’s North Main Street will host a street-wide line-up on the evening with film screenings including the popular Cork-based movie The Young Offenders, musical performances, story-telling and Young Offenders-inspired window installations. 

This one-street extravaganza is as a result of the efforts of St Peter’s Cork and the North Main Street Traders, who are inviting members of the public to enjoy a unique cultural experience on Cork’s oldest street. 

This year’s city programme features approximately 200 free events taking place in over 100 venues across the city, some of which are mobile thanks to partner Bus Éireann.

The historical Cork City Gaol building will also be an important hive of activity, as it plays host to the Cork Light Orchestra.

Foodies will delight at the feast for the senses that will be on display at the English Market which stays open late for the occasion.  

The team at Blackrock Observatory will put on an evening of stargazing in honour of the completion of the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn.

See www.culturenightcorkcounty.ie and www.culturenightcork.ie  for more.