THIS YEAR’S CULTURE Night is fast approaching – one of the most fun and vibrant nights of the year, when towns and cities across the island of Ireland become cultural hubs.

This year’s event will take place on 22 September and will see hundreds of organisations and businesses opening their doors – for free – to the public. There will be readings, live performances, family fun, heritage events and lots more for people to enjoy.

And to give people a taster of what to expect, we took a busload of TheJournal.ie readers on a Culture Night preview bus tour of Cork city.

Performers from Music Generation entertained us on the bus.

We brought them on a Bus Éireann bus to Blackrock Castle Observatory, the Everyman Theatre, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral and the Rising Sons Brewery.

At Blackrock Castle Observatory, we found out about how the castle – built in the 16th century – is now the perfect place to find out more about science and outer space.

We got to go up the winding steps to the castle tower and discover more about the stars and planets in an inflatable (yes – inflatable!) planetarium. There’s loads planned for Culture Night, from stargazing to a Saturn-themed exhibition.

At the Everyman Theatre on McCurtain St, we got to see backstage – where the actors go before they go onstage, where they get ready, and exactly what technology helps the stage manager give the right directions.

The theatre was opened in the late 1890s and has enjoyed many decades of bringing entertainment to Corkonians. It was once nearly destroyed in a fire – but thankfully the auditorium was saved by the fire curtains (which we were able to examine when we took a look at the stage itself).

Head there on Culture Night and you too can take a tour of the backstage area – keep an eye out for the stairwell covered in fantastic theatre posters. There’ll also be a special family-friendly panto event from 4 – 6pm that afternoon.

(Can’t see the video? Click here)

At St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, we found out about the history of the incredible Gothic Revival building, and its role in the founding of the city. We also were treated to an organ recital – and if you visit there on Culture Night, you’ll be treated to an evening song performance.

The night was rounded off at the Rising Sons Brewery, a local microbrewery opened in 2014. This family-owned business is located in the historic Coal Quay area. On Culture Night, they’ll be giving tours of the brewery – definitely one for those who love a craft brew.

(Can’t see the video? Click here)

The entertainment on our bus tour was from the young people of Music Generation, a national outreach programme which has encouraged a new generation of young rappers in Cork.

Watch how the preview tour went in our video above.

Find out what’s happening near you on Culture Night by visiting the official website.

Read: ‘Like climbing Everest’: How a century’s worth of stories from this Cork community made it online>

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