Work continues to be absurdly busy, so I couldn’t wait for the week to be over. This Friday evening was Culture Night in Ireland, described as: “An annual, all-island public event which takes place each year on the third Friday of September, Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir celebrates culture, creativity and the arts and seeks to actively promote the belief that this rich and varied culture is alive, treasured and nurtured in people’s lives, today and every day.“ There were dozens of free events going on throughout Dublin city, including open galleries, live performances, tours, demonstrations, etc. I had made plans to meet up with an artist friend, B, to check out a few of the offerings, but unfortunately at the last minute he had to back out due to a work emergency.
Not to be deterred by this disappointment, I texted my friend CJ to see if he was going to any of the events, and he replied back immediately asking if I could get to an outdoor amphitheater on the grounds of the Dublin City Council in 15 minutes. Thankfully it’s just a little further away than Christ Church Cathedral, so I launched out of the apartment walking as briskly as I could through the crowded sidewalks of Dame Street. CJ and an old Scottish schoolmate of his had gotten there early to nab front row seats. The event staff were starting to turn away people, but they let me through when I said I had friends waiting for me.
The first act was a brass band comprised of a group of 20-something Irish lads who were absolutely phenomenal. Next was a modern dance performance by a diverse ensemble whom I can only describe as kinetic — their energetic movements were loosely set to abstract music and some of their own vocalisations, with much of the movement seemingly improvised during each dancer’s solos followed by more cohesive group choreography. Third on the programme was a folksy female singer-songwriter who with an acoustic guitar and ethereal voice. We listened to a few of her songs before deciding to leave in search of some food. After grabbing some pizza and beer nearby, we walked upriver along the Liffey to a photography exhibit in a very gritty queer art space. We were among the oldest people there, and it was extremely warm in the cramped rooms and hallways that served as makeshift galleries, but it was worth it to see the fascinating photographs that captured the streets and people of Dublin from interesting perspectives.
The sunset was among the most spectacular I’ve seen in Dublin, as if Mother Nature was determined not to be outdone by the other performances of the evening.
Until next time….
