Cork County Celebrates Cruinniú Na Cásca on Easter Monday
Cruinniú na Cásca (National Day of Culture) 2017 takes place on Easter Monday, 17th April and promises to be an exciting day in the County of Cork. Cork County Council will be supporting and promoting a whole range of community based activities in each of the eight Municipal Districts that make up the wonderful County of Cork.
On the day there will be over 20 events to convey the importance of culture to our everyday lives, ranging from art and creativity to local history, music, language and folklore right through to our natural heritage and archaeological/architectural heritage.
In the Regional Park, Ballincollig, Ted Cook will discuss how nature inspires creativity; the Pards will perform a re-enactment to give an insight into past military cultures and a fully participative African drumming session will also take place.
In Carrigaline, there will be a wonderful afternoon of history and culture, music and song, for all to enjoy in the recently opened Centenary Garden at Millwood. Commencing at 21:00 in the Abbey Hotel, Ballyvourney, a large Céilí will take place – all welcome.
In Bridgetown Abbey, Castletownroche, an afternoon of traditional Irish Music and Ecclesial Heritage will take place with thanks to the traditional Irish group (Ceol Ó Thuaidh (pupils from local Cork ETB schools)) and County Archaeologist Mary Sleeman. Meanwhile in Kinsale the Kinsale Amateur Orchestral Society will be performing and people can also learn of an exciting new cultural project relating to the Battle of Kinsale.
Clonakilty will see plenty of cultural activity by way of traditional Irish Music in Emmet Place with Chalk Painting in Astna Square and the Michael Collins Museum will also be open to the public for free. In addition, Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage will give a walking cultural/historical tour of the town. In the Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh, Liam Ó Maonlaí will perform to what is expected to be a full crowd (booking essential) and in Fermoy Youth Centre, Eilís Ní Bhriain will give a fascinating bilingual (Irish and English) talk on An tAthar Peadar Ó Laoghaire, who was a truly renowned patron of the Creative Ireland of his era. Spike Island will also be offering a free tour of the island, and in particular, the recently opened Aud Exhibition.
One of the largest events of the day takes place in the Grounds of Mallow Castle from 15:00 to 17:30 – the very first, Mallow Pipe Band Gathering. The afternoon will see Pipe Bands from all over the County perform at a free public concert with thanks to the Arts Office of Cork County Council and the Kanturk/Mallow Municipal District. In Millstreet, the museum will be open to the public from 2 to 4pm, followed by a walking tour of the town, itself steeped in culture and heritage.
In Skibbereen, a ‘Made in Cork’ day will take place at Uilinn West Cork Arts Centre. This will be an event packed with family activities and early in the evening a walking tour of Skibbereen Town’s culture and heritage will take place. In East Cork, the day commences at 10 a.m. with a free tour of the newly opened cultural tourism attraction, the Youghal Clock Gate Tower, followed in St. Mary’s Collegiate Church and the Mall Arts Centre with a range of cultural and musical performances from 14:30 to 18:00.
Further events are also set to take place and remember that these events are free and fully inclusive. Full details of events are available to see on www.corkcoco.ie/heritage and/or nationally via https://cruinniu.rte.ie/country-events/.
In looking ahead to this special day, Chief Executive Cork County Council Tim Lucey notes, ‘The County of Cork is gifted with a wealth of culture and creativity. Crinniú na Cásca will be a wonderful opportunity for community groups throughout the County to highlight the incredible culture and heritage that surrounds and connects us all.’
Speaking in County Hall, at the launch of the inaugural Crinniú na Cásca Day, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Séamus McGrath welcomed the Crinniú na Cásca Initiative and commended the multitude of groups participating on the day. “Crinniú na Cásca is taking place thanks to a great number of community groups and organisations within Cork County. I would like to encourage everyone, young and old, to participate in the day and show what culture truly means to us here in the wonderful County of Cork”.