Culture Night takes place on Friday 19^th September when 36 regions, towns and cities around Ireland will buzz with events and live performances as the nation’s most popular cultural extravaganza returns for 2014. There is a diverse mix of FREE events with something to suit every age and interest from live music to interactive tours in the more than 900 venues participating around the country, with each county showcasing the very best of its cultural talents and creativity. Building on last year’s estimated 350,000 participants record crowds are expected for 2014 as the country connects for this one night a year in a national movement of exploration, experience and enjoyment. An incredible blend of cultural events will take place with museums, galleries, cathedrals, studios, observatories, libraries, parks, government buildings and theatres in each corner of the country opening late to create an inimitable celebratory night-time atmosphere.

§  National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology

In the National Museum of Ireland Archaeology on Kildare Street visitors can join Regina Sexton, culinary and food historian, and Jessica de Búrca of Montague Heritage Services for ‘The Food of Viking Towns and Gaelic Countryside: Tastes of Early Medieval Ireland’ from 6.30-7.30pm and learn about and see what foods were enjoyed in Ireland over 1000 years ago.

§  The Mendicity Institution

                Visitors to Dublin’s oldest working charity on Culture Night can watch actors recreate the life of the institution in its heyday of the 1820s and taste the food which was served there at the time.

§  Waterways Ireland

Waterways Ireland will have a night exploring sugar and its many yummy forms in the Grand Canal Quay centre. Visitors can enjoy love demonstrations, sample delicious desserts from home and abroad and discover our canals sugar heritage.

§  Cork Butter Museum

This unique institution in Shandon celebrates one of the great success stories of Ireland, the butter trade. Culture Night visitors will learn of the central role of dairy culture in Ireland and the internationally important Butter Exchange in nineteenth century Cork, the traditional craft of home butter making and the modern success of the Kerrygold brand.

The full national programme is available on www.culturenight.ie

 

Pics from Culture Night Facebook

Like that extra glass or two too many during the week. Like picking between your teeth with a straightened paper clip. Like that smarmy randomer after aforementioned glass too many. Like the coleslaw technically still in date but the mayo has curdled. But enough about my week, and possible Alanis Morrisette-esque lyric attempts.

Have you seen this impressive looking yoke? The wine contraption, not the woman.

Good news, fellow lushies-It exists!

But then, much like the curdled mayo coleslaw….I figured it might not be worth it. I couldn’t find a price guide apart from one very passionate article mentioning a price scale from $10k to over $100k. Hmm, it sure was impressive looking but how much wine would you be drinking to justify spending thousands on managing and preserving your splishysplashy? It would have to be a household of wine nerds. Ones who don’t use the emptying of bottle as a timer alert for bed time. I’m presuming it’s for those who spend a pretty penny on their booze and savour it for weeks. I wonder what that’s like….

Anywho, it sure is pretty. Along with the fancy plate warming drawer I saw on Come Dine With Me, it’s on the list for the day I have more money than sense.

In the meantime, I’ll keep my box of wine where it belongs; beside me on the couch *kissyfaces*.