MUSICIANS DAVID GRAY and Colm Mac Con Iomaire have recorded a performance on Skellig Michael which will be broadcast as part of Culture Night next month.

Events will take place across Ireland on Friday, 20 September. The official programme for the 19th annual Culture Night was launched in Dublin today.

Speaking on Morning Ireland earlier, Maureen Kennelly, director of the Arts Council, said one of the most anticipated events will be the performance on Skellig Michael (Sceilg Mhichíl), off the Kerry coast.

“There’s something particularly special happening on Sceilg Mhichíl, whereby the wonderful musician Colm Mac Con Iomaire and the singer-songwriter David Gray will be performing,” Kennelly said.

Organisers later confirmed that the performance of a song has already been recorded without an audience and will be broadcast on RTÉ on 20 September. 

Other events being held include a postcard exhibition in Ryan’s Bar in Kilkenny, traditional music in Down Syndrome Tipperary, and hip hop performances across Limerick city.

Speaking at today’s launch, Maura McGrath, Arts Council chairperson, said Culture Night is “a joyous moment in the cultural calendar like no other”.

The wealth of talent, performance and art on display truly highlights how incredibly vibrant our country is.

“It’s a chance for communities across Ireland to come together and experience the transformative power of the arts,” McGrath added.

The Arts Council’s book-gifting project Read Mór is also back for a third year.

This year, the Arts Council is partnering with the Irish Prison Service to gift a curated list of titles from Irish and Irish-based authors within all prisons nationally.

Some 1.2 million people participated in over 1,700 free cultural events around the country as part of Culture Night last year.

More information about this year’s schedule can be read here.

The article was updated to note that the Skellig Michael performance has been pre-recorded.