Dublin’s Culture Night 2008

Leinster House Opens Its Doors for a Night of Culture in the Capital

Friday, September 19 2008
5pm – 11pm

www.oireachtas.ie
www.culturenight.ie

Press Release 12 September 2008

September 19 2008 will see the Houses of the Oireachtas’ first year of participation in Dublin’s Culture Night. The gates of Leinster House will be opened for the evening and members of the public will be invited in for an evening of culture and entertainment in the historic surroundings of the Irish Parliament.

Speaking in advance of the event the Ceann Comhairle, John O’Donoghue TD, remarked "Dublin’s Culture Night has provided us with another excellent opportunity to open the gates of the Irish Parliament and invite the public in to see the historic building that is Leinster House - the heart of Irish democracy."

Visitors on the night will enjoy walking tours of Leinster House, which will feature access to the debating chambers of both Dáil and Seanad Éireann and also view the home of the Oireachtas Committee system in Leinster House 2000. Entertainment on the night will be provided by the Mornington Singers, an award winning Irish chamber choir, harpist Anne-Marie O’Farrell and bravura duo Dermot Dunne, accordionist and Elaine Clarke, violinist.

Tickets for this event can be reserved in advance through the Oireachtas Communications Unit (Ph: 1890 252 808) and are available on a first come first served basis for 3 sessions over the course of the evening. Sessions run from 5pm – 7pm, 7pm – 9pm and 9pm – 11pm. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 5.30pm.

Ends/

For Further information please contact:
The Communications Unit
P: 01 618 3066/3166
F: 01 618 4551
E: info@oireachtas.ie

Notes to the editor:

1) Speaking about the continuing series of public events in Leinster House, the Ceann Comhairle, John O’Donoghue TD remarked: "The inaugural Oireachtas Family Days, held earlier this year, have proven to us that there is a strong interest from the public in the work done by Members of the Dáil and Seanad. We hope that this event can further serve that interest by again opening the gates of Leinster House."

Speaking about the connection between the Irish Parliament and the Irish people he continued: "Research shows that people do not engage to any great degree with politics but it also revealed that the majority of people want more information. That is why in recent times I have met with a range of representative bodies to encourage people to connect with the work we do here in Leinster House."

"Similarly I have visited schools up and down the country with other Members of the Oireachtas and our own Education Outreach Officers as part of a major schools education programme. We are bringing politicians, politics and the parliamentary system into the classroom. It is hoped that in the near future this program will become part of the Civic, Social and Political Education syllabus for all students and other events and publications will follow to raise public awareness of the work of Oireachtas Members."

2) Culture Night was first launched in Dublin in 2006 by Temple Bar Cultural Trust, with the aim of organising an event that would provide a new and imaginative way for people of all ages and from all backgrounds to access and enjoy the rich cultural offering of the country’s cultural venues. Due to the year on year success- last year over 80,000 people came into Dublin City for Culture Night– the event has expanded nationally to include Limerick, Cork, Galway and Waterford.

3) The Mornington Singers is an award-winning mixed-voice chamber choir based in Dublin (Ireland) and conducted by Orla Flanagan. The choir was established in 1997 by college friends who wished to continue singing together after graduation. Today the choir has around thirty singers from a wide variety of backgrounds and nationalities, including Ireland, England, Wales, Estonia, Slovakia, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Australia and the United States. www.morningtonsingers.org

4) An honours graduate of UCD, Anne-Marie O’Farrell, has received numerous awards, including a DAAD academic scholarship to study at Bonn University. She holds professional diplomas in four instruments along with many national awards for original composition. She has also been awarded a first class honours MA in Composition from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. More recently she was presented with the 2006 O'Carolan award from the Vocal Heritage Society of Ireland for her achievements to date. www.iol.ie/~amofharp