Immerse yourself in the vibrant tapestry of Irish culture at Dublin’s Culture Night 2024. A spectacular annual event taking place on Friday, September 20th. This free, national moment of celebration throws open the doors to a dazzling array of museums, galleries, historic buildings, and cultural organisations. Inviting you on an unforgettable journey of discovery.
The Hendrick Hotel: your gateway to Dublin’s cultural extravaganza
Perfectly situated in the heart of Dublin’s city centre, The Hendrick Hotel provides the ideal haven for your Culture Night adventure. After a day of exploring the city’s hidden gems, unwind in our luxurious accommodations and sip on a well-deserved drink in our gorgeous lobby.
Our team is also happy to assist you in planning your Culture Night itinerary, ensuring you don’t miss a beat of this exciting event.
A legacy of cultural celebration
Culture Night boasts a fascinating history, blossoming from a local initiative to a national phenomenon. It all began in 2006 in Dublin’s Temple Bar, a trendy district known for its artistic spirit. An arts organisation, The Temple Bar Cultural Trust, in collaboration with Dublin City Council, spearheaded this innovative project to create a cultural offering. With a modest 40 venues opening their doors for a free, late-night cultural extravaganza. These venues included arts centres, community centres and libraries for a special programme of events.
The success was immediate, and the following year, Culture Night expanded citywide, more than doubling in size with 87 cultural institutions participating. This rapid growth highlighted the public’s appetite for exploration of cultural activities and the desire to celebrate Dublin’s rich artistic heritage.
By 2008, the magic spread beyond Dublin, with Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford joining the initiative. The following year saw the event reach ten cities, including Tralee, Roscommon, Mayo, Wexford, Sligo, and Belfast, showcasing the nationwide appeal of this cultural celebration. For once, these events were not tied to cities, and included rural locations on the night.
The momentum continued to build in 2010, with the number of participating cities doubling to 20 across the Republic of Ireland. Culture Night even ventured beyond the mainland, reaching the islands of Tory and Inis Meáin, the Gaeltacht regions (Irish-speaking communities), and even crossed the border with Derry joining Belfast in hosting its own Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir. The joining of community groups across the country was a monumental sign of the power in diversity of culture.
Momentum of events, funding and venues begins to build
The year 2012 marked a significant milestone as the night became an international event. Irish communities in London, Leeds, Newcastle, and Liverpool began hosting their own Culture Nights, spreading the spirit of Irish culture across the globe.
Over the following years, Culture Night continued to expand its reach and solidify its position as a beloved national tradition. International participation grew steadily, with Irish centres and overseas missions organizing their own cultural events for a joyful night of celebration.
2015 saw the movement celebrating its 10th birthday with a whopping 1,500 events across the country. The following year, Culture Night became a part of the Ireland 2016 celebrations, marking the centenary of the Easter Rising.
Dublin Castle hosted a special series of live and broadcast events. These were in partnership with Dublin City Council and the Office of Public Works (OPW). While RTÉ presented a dedicated centenary program. By 2016, this celebration had grown to encompass an impressive 3,000 events in 40 towns, cities, and regions.
Culture Night’s commitment to inclusivity continued in 2017, with events held for the first time in Paris and New York, further extending the reach of Irish culture. In 2019, responsibility for Culture Night was transferred to the Arts Council, solidifying its position as a cornerstone of Ireland’s cultural landscape.
Online events in 2020
The global pandemic in 2020 presented a unique challenge, but Culture Night adapted with a successful hybrid format. A combination of digital and in-person events ensured the celebration continued. RTÉ replaced their annual concert with a series of online and broadcast performances, while the Department of Foreign Affairs’ cultural unit partnered to host events in London, Paris, Berlin, and New York.
Culture night Dublin 2024
Returning for it’s nineteenth edition, Oíche Chultúir is promoting an ever growing programme of events. From Cultural Events, Dance Ensembles, Street Drama, Creative Activities, Sports Groups and Family Friendly events in Public Spaces this year’s programme has it all. As always, Friday is the day and it land’s on September 20th. You can find the finer event details on the Culture Night Website.
While this years annual event will be almost fully planned, you can fill in an online application to get involved for 2025. Every avenue from contemporary culture to comedy to traditional folklore is celebrated from Community Halls to the biggest stages in the country. The application process, in conjunction with the local arts office can be viewed online.
Join the celebration of varied culture at The Hendrick Hotel
With its rich history and ever-evolving format, Culture Night promises an unforgettable evening. Filled with artistic discovery, historical exploration, and captivating entertainment. Make The Hendrick Hotel your home base for this vibrant celebration. We look forward to welcoming you to Dublin. Ensuring your Culture Night experience is nothing short of extraordinary.
The Hendrick has recently become an event space itself. We have opened up the lobby and outdoor terrace event space to local artists for absolutely free. Our aim is to be the ideal location for artists to host a networking event with art to the forefront. By having no venue hire fee, we hope to become a cultural venue of change. The Hendrick Smithfield has hosted film screenings, Art Studio Viewings and a Irish traditional music concert.
Stay and Discover Dublin!
Discover the best places in Dublin and modern bars, restaurants and stories at the Hendrick Hotel in Smithfield. Experience Culture like never before as you check in for this annual all island event!
All rooms in the Hendrick have
- Individually Controlled Air Conditioning
- Power Shower with Rituals Toiletries
- 32″ TV with Chromecast
- Free High-Speed WiFi
- Safe suitable for laptops up to 13″
- Tea & Coffee
So what are you waiting for,