Culture Night, 18 September 2015

Downstairs Dublin in Foras Head Office, 7 Merrion Square

The doors of Foras na Gaeilge Head Office, 7 Merrion Square, will be open to the public on Culture Night, 18 September, with entertainment, company and much more. The night’s programme will be part of the Downstairs Dublin project, run by The Irish Times to celebrate the Georgian houses of Merrion Square. Programme for the Night5 p.m. – 9.30 p.m.Exhibition:Basement Garden (outdoors) Basement Garden is a unique exhibition which can be seen from North Merrion Square footpath, outside the head office on this night only. This is a magical, mysterious work in the Foras basement, created by Fionnuala Fallon, Gardening Correspondent for The Irish Times.The Basement Garden aims to attract visitors passing by with its beauty and with the rich cultural heritage of the language, Irish plants and Irish architecture. This pop up garden will be created specially for the night and, therefore, this is an unmissable chance to see it between the above times! 5 p.m. – 7.30 p.m.Plé agus Tae (Talk and Tea) (Foras canteen and hall) All will be welcome to come for a cup of tea and to use whatever Irish they have with us in the Foras canteen between 5 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. If you need a teabreak from touring the other exhibitions on Merrion Square, or if you want to find out about the language and culture, call in and you will be very welcome. 5.30 p.m. – 7.15 p.m.Showing of Rún Cheanannais Mhóir (The Secret of Kells) (Foras hall) Rún Cheanannais Mhóir, the famous film which won an Oscar nomination in 2010 will be shown at 5.30 in the Foras hall. Thanks to Cartoon Saloon for making the arrangements for showing the Irish language version of this fascinating animated feature film. Families will be very welcome at this informal showing. Seats will be provided at the front and there will be space at the back of the hall so parents and children can have flexibility and space to come and go during the showing. This film is rated PG and some scenes may unsettle young children. It will be up to parents to decide if it is suitable for their own children. Here is a link to the Irish Film Classification Office in relation to PG films:

http://www.ifco.ie/website/ifco/ifcoweb.nsf/web/pgguidelines?OpenDocument&type=graphic

8.00 p.m. – 9.30 p.m.Variety Night (Foras hall) Join us for the final celebration of Culture Night which will focus on company, music and poetry. The band IMLÉ, will perform a combination of different musical styles for us, from hip-hop go punk, and we will have poets with us as special guests during the evening as well. Join us for refreshments and much more!