Culture Night

Friday night in Dublin was culture night, this is a night when so many museums and galleries, and theaters open their doors and allow the public to come in to exhibits for free. Just one big art fest that occurs all over Ireland.


A group of us got out booklet with all the different events occurring around the city and planned out the venues we most wanted to see.  We picked about ten different venues all around each other, planned our route and set to the streets. Immediately we noticed the long lines everywhere, and got worried.




Our first stop was the Book of Kells and The Great Library at Trinity because normally to get into these two places is ten euro so we thought why not save that money. It was interesting to see the Book of Kells and the other important books at the exhibit as well. It was fabulous to be able to see the Great Library and all the gorgeous books it holds. It was even better to be listening to three harpists play while looking around the Library.

Photo Credit: Olivia

Our next stop was The Doorway Gallery for their edible art exhibits. We waited in line for about a half hour but right next to the line was an outdoor performance. Just an open mic space for people to tell stories and perform anything they would like. It made waiting in a line a lot more interesting and entertaining. The way the phrased the exhibit in the booklet made it seem as if you could walk into the gallery and start eating, but it wasn't like that at all. It was a lot of different artworks made from edible items. So a wall of spray painted bananas, or a bouquet of chocolate covered strawberries.  What most of us liked was a room in the basement where the walls were filled with paintings of a teacup cake (literally a cake made up of teacups. All the paintings were from different perspectives and I believe from different artists though so they were beautiful to look at.

We then headed to The Freemason's exhibit but the line was far too long to wait in, so we made our way to Dublin Castle. We saw different exhibits that normally aren't open including the old castle, the interior of the new castle, and the holding cells or Dark side of Dublin Castle. We also got to listen to performers in the Castle Courtyard (violinists).

Dublin Castle

Performance

After a fun filled night of culture us four girls headed to a local pub we have been wanting to try. We have constantly walked by The Merchant's Arch and heard great music pouring out onto the street and keep saying we should try that pub sometime, so friday night we finally decided to try it. We walked in, were able to grab a seat, and then the band started up. Just three guys in the front of the pub next to the bar playing to their heart's content. They played things from The Lumineers, Mumford and Son's and even did a great version of Wagon Wheel. I kept saying the perfect end to that night would be for the band to play Galway Girl, but I was too chicken to ask the band when the asked for requests.

As we were sitting there moving to the music after having finished our drinks, we looked at the time and thought we should leave in a  few minutes. The band asked for requests again and all my friends just stared at me but I was still too chicken but then the band said "Yeah we are going to play Galway Girl after the next one." It couldn't have been better!  They actually played the song I wanted to hear and it was fabulous. Great end to a great day!