Culture Night attendees have their say

This year’s annual Culture Night took place on Friday 19 September in Dublin’s ‘Historic Quarter’, The Liberties and elsewhere across the country.

Many a marvel took place within The Liberties on the night including open galleries, walking tours, a designer mart, food and drink events, and various musical and poetic acts.

Here are some people’s opinions of the night.

Anita Bader, 54, Bavaria, Germany

What are you looking to attend tonight?
We’ve been to the City Hall now we’re in the cathedral, we want to go to St. Patrick’s and Trinity College.

Have you attended other culture nights previously?
No, we’re tourists.

What do you think of tonight?
It’s nice, it’s really great, you get the opportunity to go for free to all the attractions, all the performances are really nice, it’s a great mood and we’re enjoying it a lot, it’s really great.

What do you think is the most cultured thing about Dublin 8?
This historic part is most interesting for us, you have all this culture in this place.

Henry McElhinny, 54, Clontarf

What are you looking to attend tonight?
We’re looking forward to looking around Temple Bar, and a few of the interesting sites.

Have you attended other culture nights previously?
Yes I was here last year, I went to Croke Park and the year before the Dáil.

What do you think is the most cultured thing about Dublin 8?
I’d have to think about that, I think the Liberties itself is a fascinating area to even think about. A lot of old Dublin is there, this is the original Dublin on this side of the river, I think It’s very significant.

Ann Farrington, 30, Raheny

What are you looking to attend tonight?
Tamp and Stitch, we’re here to see John Rushe’s paintings, he’s an amazing painter, other than that we’re just gonna go with the flow.

Have you attended other culture nights previously?
I haven’t.

What do you think is the most cultured thing about Dublin 8?
Oh god I don’t know. I’ve no idea.

Niall O’Loughlin, 24, Monkstown

What are you looking to attend tonight?
Jess and I were painting at this, so that’s mainly what I’ve been planning on. The last few years I’ve just had a wander around Temple bar, so I might do that after here. I haven’t really looked at the booklet ‘cause I’ve been busy here.

Have you attended other culture nights previously?
Yeah, the last four.

What do you think of tonight compared to other nights?
It’s really cool, one of my favourite nights in Dublin, two years ago was probably my favourite when they had these Phone boxes up around Dublin, you dialled a certain number, and the phone box would then do something; so for example one had lights that lit up, another made sounds, and another had a cut out of Lionel Richie that said hello.

What do you think is the most cultured thing about Dublin 8?
The people, there’s a lot more characters around here than where I suppose I’d be from. You get a few more characters, real old Dublin.

Jess Tobin, 35, Inchicore

What are you looking to attend tonight?
My answer is much like Niall, we were asked to paint at this, so I was just gonna be here painting, being part of culture night rather than being at it.

Have you attended other culture nights previously?
Just one last year, I was painting at that as well. It was Blue Fire Street by Jervis Centre.

What do you think Is the most cultured thing about Dublin 8?
The diversity of the people who live here, it’s just a really big mix.

Krishna Srikumar, 22, Lucan

What are you looking to attend tonight?
The Newmarket food co-op, and I went to NCAD to see an exhibition and then I went to the Back Loft which is rather prominent to that to see Klara Trainors exhibition there, then I came here to the food-co-op

Have you attended other culture nights previously?
Yes I’ve been attending them since 2011. I find it really exciting and inventive and really enticing too.

What do you think of tonight compared to other nights?
My favourite year would probably be my first night ever. It was just so memorable to me. I went to a few exhibitions and art galleries and had some wine. A friend of mine, his father is a painter, it was his exhibition and I found that most memorable.

What do you think is the most cultured thing about Dublin 8?
I’m not sure, I’ll have to sleep on that I’m afraid.