Spoken Word on Culture Night 2025
The twentieth edition of Culture Night will take place on Friday 19th September 2025, marking a nationwide celebration of culture, creativity, and the arts. This year’s event is represented by two ambassadors whose work embodies both tradition and innovation: Helen Steele, the acclaimed, award-winning fashion designer and artist known for blending traditional Irish craft with contemporary style, and Biird, an eleven-piece all-female group redefining Irish traditional music. Together they highlight the energy, heritage, and creativity that make Culture Night such a distinctive occasion, sharing its unique spirit with audiences across the country.
Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir is brought to the public by the Arts Council and delivered in partnership with local authorities across Ireland. It is a national moment designed to connect people with culture in their own communities and beyond, opening up opportunities for engagement that extend beyond the night itself. Each year, on the second last Friday of September, towns, villages, cities, and rural communities host a wide array of free events, joined by online programmes and media partners who help bring the festivities to a wider audience.
At the heart of Culture Night is the belief that culture is alive, treasured, and nurtured in everyday life. Specially programmed events and workshops showcase the richness and diversity of Irish cultural life, encouraging participation and creating meaningful encounters for people of all ages. Thanks to the support of the Arts Council and local authorities, every event is free of charge, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for all.
As part of this year’s programme, audiences across Ireland can enjoy an extensive choice of spoken word events. In Dublin, Bewley’s Café Theatre on Grafton Street will host an evening of storytelling, theatre, music, and poetry, while The Write Stuff at The Hendrick Smithfield features Steve O’Toole alongside Kiera Dignam, Joy Coleen, and Gerard Devine. The Poetry’s Dead podcast brings its mix of spoken word, music, and comedy to The LAB.
In Cork, Ó Bhéal go Béal at The Long Valley combines poetry films, live readings, audience interaction, and open mic. Later, Culture Night Late at the Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh presents a festival-style mix of poetry, performance, and music exploring belonging and heritage. In Kerry, the Kerry Writers Museum in Listowel presents Stories from Around the World with international storytellers, while in Cahersiveen, an open mic at the Kerry Coast Hotel blends spoken word, song, and performance.
In Tipperary, South Tipperary Arts Centre hosts The Poetry Den, a living-room style poetry space with readings, activities, and an open mic. In Wicklow, Enniskerry Library stages an evening of music, words, and song, while Murphy’s Restaurant in Gorey offers A Night of Music, Story & Verse with jazz, storytelling, and poetry. Rathcroghan Visitor Centre in Roscommon presents Tírdhreach, a night of poetry, song, and original music in Irish.
In Wexford, Wexford Arts Centre holds So Say So, curated by Stephen James Smith, with poetry, storytelling, and music, including the 5-Word-Challenge open mic. Meanwhile, Outspoken in Galway runs a bilingual open mic hosted by local poets and performers. In Arklow, the Arts Centre presents Kaleidoscope, an all-day programme of art, poetry, film, and food with live readings in the riverside courtyard.
In Roscommon, Creative Mic Night at Hannon’s Hotel welcomes poets, musicians, comedians, playwrights, and artists in an open performance space. Elsewhere, A Night of Poetry and Music with James McKeon and Friends takes place in Naas with trad musicians, An Evening of Cultural Serendipity unfolds in Enniskerry with songs, stories, and poetry, and Ceol, Amhránaíocht, Filíocht agus Scéalaíocht in Newbridge highlights Irish-language performance and traditional arts. In Clogher, the Community Centre hosts Clogher Culture Night with storytelling, music, and basket weaving.
For more information on these events and to view the full Culture Night programme visit www.culturenight.ie
