by Bernie Goldbach in Clonmel
FOR MY FIRST hour of my autumn 2022 academic schedule, I'm taking 20 animators on a field trip of local Culture Night venues in Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland.
Culture Night is a nationwide event in Ireland, normally on the third Friday in September. This year, it's Friday 23 September 2022 and it celebrates the richness and diversity of culture in 21st century Ireland today. Locally, it suggests pathways to ongoing engagement for the creatives on the Clonmel Digital Campus as we drop by five venues hosting six exhibitions or events. Several of the venues are listed on the map and short descriptions below.
Old St Mary's Church
On the grounds of Old St Mary's Church will sit a sculpture that represents five months of work with the artist Brigid Teehan, Clonmel children, and their families. Some participants live in the Suir Island Hughes Mills complex.
This special Arts Council 70th anniversary commission explored creative play with children using a diversity of natural materials and techniques including cob, an ancient traditional building material.
Museum of Hidden History
Two exhibitions run in the Tipperary Museum of Hidden History. One is a short film and another is a set of table mats created by Aoife Barrett with inspiration from Tipperary Food Producers. The artistic prints reflect the essence of regenerative farming, cheesemaking, beekeeping, animal husbandry, and biodiversity synonymous with The Apple Farm.
South Tipperary Arts Centre
The local arts centre will hold a screening of Now & Then, an intergenerational project finished by local artists, daycare centre members, and primary school students.
Elderly Clonmel residents living in the Irishtown Day Care Centre and young students in Gaelscoil Chluain Meala participated in this project.
For tasty ideas across Ireland:
Culture Night Food Events deserve to be in the spotlight with the help of Tipperary Food Producers. Perhaps we could plan a culinary touch in Clonmel for Culture Night 2023.
