Culture Night: 10 amazing places you wouldn’t normally see

Tonight many museums, galleries, churches, historic houses, artist’s studios and cultural centres will all throw their doors open to visitors. We take a look at some in Dublin that are usually closed to the public.

CULTURE NIGHT 2012 will take place today – offering the public a chance to peek inside some museums, galleries, churches, historic houses, artist’s studios and cultural centres.

The night is being celebrated all across the country, is open to all ages, and is completely free – so don’t miss your chance to enjoy your local and national culture!

Culture Night sees places usually closed to the public opening their doors for one night only, and a host of talks and events created specially for the occasion.

Check out some of the best on offer in the capital today…

Lios na nÓg

History

“Cullenswood by Candlelight”. Visitors are encouraged to explore Ranelagh’s most historic house, where Patrick Pearse founded St. Enda’s in 1908 and an community of artists and activists lived and worked.

From 6pm – 11pm

Houses of the Oireachtas

History/politics

Visitors will be given guided tours of the Dáil and Seanad Chambers and allowed to explore the historic corridors of Leinster House. (Booking required) The last tour commences at 10.15pm.
From 5pm – 10pm
Leinster House, Kildare Street

Windmill Lane Recording Studios

Concert, Music

The Hot House Flowers are set to play in Studio 1 on Culture Night.
Two sets are scheduled for Sept 21st (times to be confirmed) and tickets will be allocated on first-come-first-served basis – book you place on the day at Windmill Lane studios.
Visitors will be granted a tour of the iconic Windmill Lane Recording Studios along with an intimate live gig in Studio 1 where U2, The Script, Lady Gaga and Van Morrison have recorded.
From 5pm – 11pm
20 Ringsend Road, Dublin 4

Outside the Windmill Lane recording studio. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Photocall Ireland

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Dublin

History/Religion

Friends (Quakers) have held meetings for worship for more than 300 years. Find out more about Friends’ rich contribution to Irish history and society during short discussions and interviews with members of the Society.
From 5pm – 11pm
4–5 Eustace Street,

Temple Bar, Dublin 2

American College Dublin

Music, Theatre, Tour

The American College Dublin will hold a celebration of Oscar Wilde and Dublin in the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, through words, theatre, video and music on Culture Night. Includes an exclusive production of ‘For Whom We Deliver’, by Donal Courtney, performed by the Gaiety School of Acting’s Youth Theatre Company. Conducted in the childhood home of Oscar Wilde.
From 5pm – 11pm
1 Merrion Square, Dublin 2

La Catedral Studios

Visual art

La Catedral Studios will be open for one day only to visitors, allowing the public to meet with the 24 artists working in combined-media. The Studios will throw their doors open to show their work and space where their creative daily work unfolds.
From 5pm – 11pm
7-11 St. Augustine Street,
Dublin 8

Image: courtesy of La Catedral Studios

Freemasons’ Hall

History

Visitors to the Freemasons’ Hall will be welcomed to the esoterically-styled meeting rooms of this Victorian gem in the centre of Dublin, the purpose built headquarters of the Freemasons in Ireland.
From 5pm – 10pm
17 Molesworth Street,
Dublin 2

The Mansion House

Heritage, Tour

Join a guided tour of the Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor since 1715 and scene of important civic and historic events. first-come, first-served.

Half hourly tours. First Tour 5pm, Last Tour 9.30pm.
From 5pm – 10pm

The Egyptian room, also know as the Royal Arch Room, in the Freemason’s Hall on Molesworth Street, Dublin. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

New Arts Studio

Exhibition, Talk

The studios of 11 visual artists will open to the public for one evening – providing a rare opportunity to look behind the scenes and see how works of art are created and a chance to speak with professional artists.
From 6pm – 10pm

Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies – Dunsink Observatory

Science, Technology

Come to an evening in Dublin’s historical observatory at Dunsink, once home to our greatest scientist and amateur poet, Sir William Rowan Hamilton and now part of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.
From 5pm – 11pm
Dunsink Lane, Castleknock, Dublin 15

Patrick Crowley, one the recipients of the 2008 Gogarty Scholarship,at the Dunsink Observatory in Dublin. Photo: Leon Farrell/Photo

ALSO: It’s Culture Night around Ireland – what’s on regionally?

For more information on the hundreds of events taking place across the country, please visit the Culture Night website

Have a suggestion about a place to visit tonight? Let us know in the comments below…

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