Full House for a Night to 'Sea' Culture at Marine Institute HQ

The Marine Institute's evening of marine-themed music, drama, art, and poetry on Friday, September 20th for Culture Night 2024, attracted a full house.

Hosted at the Marine Institute’s Galway headquarters, the event featured a vibrant line-up of cultural performances, immersive storytelling, captivating music inspired by the sea, and a variety of art displays, all showcasing Ireland’s profound relationship with its marine environment.

The spectacular evening, part of the nationwide Culture Night 2024 programme, was a resounding success. It brought together people of all ages to celebrate our maritime heritage through music, literature, visual arts, and performance.

The event drew a diverse audience, from families to marine enthusiasts, celebrating the fusion of marine science and culture. Dr Rick Officer, CEO of the Marine Institute, said, "The turnout tonight has been remarkable. Seeing a full house for an event celebrating the sea shows the importance of our marine heritage and the cultural significance of the sea to our local community and to Ireland.”

“I’m thrilled that so many people joined us for our special Culture Night programme. The interest and response of local community groups has been fabulous. Together, we staged such a wonderful evening of entertainment that demonstrated the enormous talent of our community. It has been an honour for the Marine Institute to host the event in our beautiful headquarters” he added.

Among the event's highlights included a special performance of ‘Adrift’ by Oranmore’s drama group, Bualadh Bos. This comedic play centres on three men set adrift at sea after a failed mutiny, who must set aside their differences and await rescue. The Culture Night programme also included poetry and prose readings by the Oranmore Creative Writing Group, and attendees were also treated to a stunning choral performance from the Marine Singers Choir.

There were a number of visual art and sculptural exhibits on display, including the exhibition ‘Bringing Ireland’s Wildlife Back to Life’, which combines art and science to raise awareness of the effects of pollution and climate change on seabirds. Artworks about the importance of the ocean to the coastal communities of Ireland and Wales, produced as part of the EU-funded project BlueFish, were also on show. Experienced street and documentary photographer Steve Scott presented his exhibit ‘Lobster Man AKA Frank’, which showcases the life of Frank Flanagan, a local dedicated lobsterman from Rinville, Galway. Visitors also viewed maritime heritage displays including the Galway Bay Flat Bottom Boat, commissioned by South-East Galway Bay community group, Cuan Beo.