Free gigs, film, art, storytelling and late-night parties at Leitrim Culture Night

On Culture Night 2025, Leitrim will transform into a stage for music, art, film and performance — with free events running across the county from Ballinamore and Carrick-on-Shannon to Manorhamilton, Kinlough and beyond.

Ballinamore

• The Island Theatre welcomes The BUGS (Ballinamore Ukulele Group Singers), a community band formed in 2022 that’s played everywhere from ukulele festivals to the Ballinamore Family Festival. Known for covers ranging from Dolly Parton to Talking Heads, they’ll hand out kazoos so the crowd can join in on a mass performance of Lovely Leitrim.

• Leitrim School of Art hosts Clay & Culture, where ceramicist Denise Corbett (30+ years teaching experience) introduces the history of Irish pottery before guiding participants to create their own piece using authentic Irish clay.

Ballinagleragh

• At her rural studio, award-winning visual artist Harriet Myfanwy Nia Tahany (known for large-scale murals and community projects) opens her mural space for the first time. A collaborative workshop will see walls transformed into bold new artworks by day, followed by an evening exhibition with live finishing touches, music and refreshments.

Carrick-on-Shannon

• The Dock runs a Cultural Dance Celebration led by Undercurrent Dance Theatre’s Kate Wilson, joined by Zimbabwean dancer Cythnia Siberry and sean-nós specialist August Kirwin. Later, artist Ciara Barker presents her immersive exhibition libraries of rest, followed by TILT — Leitrim’s new DJ collective, mentored by industry professionals, spinning techno and house until late.

• Leitrim Design House launches Co-Create II, a collaboration between stained glass artist Colette Langan, designer Erika Marks, weaver Helena Golden and ceramicist Bairbre Kennedy, plus Hey Bulldog! by designers Joe and Amanda Vencatasamy, with live tufting demos.

• The Market Yard offers a trad session with Carrick Trad and Drumsna Comhaltas, a screening of Bernie Masterson’s film The Call of the Shannon, and a headline gig by Rakish, the Leitrim folk-rock duo bringing haunting Irish melodies and foot-stomping sets to stages worldwide.

Manorhamilton

• The Glens Centre and Adaptation Film Festival present Neil Jordan’s The Miracle in Golden’s Yard, alongside Joe O’Byrne’s The Safety Catch. Jordan, one of Ireland’s most acclaimed filmmakers, is celebrated for works from The Crying Game to Michael Collins.

• Future Cast blends virtual reality, LEGO and digital twins to let participants redesign Manorhamilton’s future — aimed at curious minds aged 10–30.

• Leitrim Sculpture Centre hosts the Irish pavilion of the Gaza Biennale, featuring films, installations and models by artists including Mohammad Suliman, documenting the destruction of homes in Gaza.

Elsewhere in Leitrim

• Kinlough: Historian Dr. Padraig McGarty (Munster Technological University) gives a talk on North Leitrim history (1919–1923), followed by trad music.

• Dromahair Library: Storyteller Áine Brosnan leads Folklore and Fairy Doors, with fairy door decoration for children and tales steeped in Irish folklore.

• Drumshanbo Library: Singer Fionnuala Maxwell showcases recordings and histories of Leitrim women in traditional music and song.

• Kiltyclogher Library: Leitrim novelist and playwright Brian Leyden (Summer of ’63, Death and Plenty) gives a reading.

Culture Night takes place Friday, September 19th, with events starting from 5pm and running late into the night. Most are free and drop-in, though some workshops require booking.

Full listings and booking links: www.culturenight.ie