A total of 66 free events will take place across County Wexford on Friday, September 18 as part of Culture Night 2026. As ever, these events have been designed to engage the entire family, with musical performances, workshops, seminars, and the opportunity to recreate some of Wexford’s ancient traditions on offer throughout the day and into the evening.
History boffins will be taken back to one of the bloodiest conflicts in the county’s history at 1798 Centre in Enniscorthy at 6.30 p.m. This special presentation will focus on the battlefields and weapons of the 1798 uprising as the centre’s knowledgeable guides take their audience through the key events of the rebellion.
Meanwhile, at the National Opera House from 6.15 p.m., an eleven-year-old maestro will open proceedings for what promises to be a memorable night of musical performances. Bohdan Grechko is an “exceptionally talented pianist” and a current student of the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
He will be followed by The Quay Notes (6.30 p.m.), The Wexford Chamber Choir (7 p.m.), young performers from The Wexford Factory (7.30 p.m.), and The Wexford Light Opera Society (8 p.m.)
Those in search of a more hands-on experience may wish to attend The Family Resource Centre, Kilmuckridge from 6-8 p.m. Under the tutelage of artist Trish Middleton, parents and teenagers can take part in a circular weaving workshop where they’ll explore colour, texture, and simple techniques together.
No experience is needed. Booking for this event is required, WhatsApp Trish on 087 6228509 to secure your place.
At Gorey School of Art from 7-9 p.m. participants can take part in three creative workshops: darkroom photography, printmaking, or painting. These workshops are suitable for adults or teenagers aged 16 and over.
Meanwhile, in the Scouts Hall in New Ross (7.30-9 p.m.) you will be able to enjoy live music while also engaging your creative side. Drawing on the Blues is a social sketching and live music event. Guided by artist Ben Dolan, participants will create a portrait of the musicians from a mobile phone photograph using pencil and charcoal.
Blues and trad band Skin the Deer will provide musical entertainment and act as models for the group to draw
A more spiritual experience will be on offer in Rosslare Strand as, for the third year in a row, ancient Irish customs will be melded with contemporary community voices at St. Brioc’s Well (6-9 p.m.)
Featuring live performances, intercultural song sharing, a candlelight walk, youth art displays, and a moving closing ceremony this event begins in Coast Hotel before a solemn, sombre procession towards the well where participants will be invited to “fill it” with positivity and good intentions.
Ancient local traditions will also be embraced at Sigginstown Castle (7-9 p.m.) where participants will be invited to build a Mummer’s hat. This workshop, hosted by street artist Caoimhe Dunn, will involve making your own straw hat as might have been used in the past by Mummers, Wren Boys and Masquers in Ireland and across Europe.
The Normans will be celebrated in Enniscorthy Castle (4-5 p.m.) as children are invited to create their own shield to bring home and keep. This workshop will encourage participants to choose from an array of stencil designs and colours and paint their own Norman shield.
A bouzouki is among the instruments being utilised at Wexford Arts Centre from 8-9 p.m. where singer/composer Aileen Lambert, bouzouki player Niall Lacey, and flute/whistle player Noreen Kehoe, bringing the poetry of the much-overlooked Winifred M. Letts to life through newly composed airs and traditional-style singing.
In Bunclody Library from 4-5 p.m. a screening of a screening of Where the Slaney Remembers takes place. The short film is a reflective and evocative journey into Wexford’s past, told through the eyes and voices of its people.
Produced by Alan Boland and Chris Hayes from Crannog Media in conjunction with Archaeologist Barry Lacey of Slaneyside Heritage this production follows the Slaney from Bunclody to Scarawalsh bridge meeting locals who tell us about the stories, incidents and people from the past along its banks.
Lastly, in St. Mary’s Hall, Gerhard-on-Sea from 4-7 p.m. Jeanette O’Brien will celebrate Irish wildlife through mask-making, mythology and Gaelige. This immersive experience is for children interested in nature, art and story-telling and will explore the important roles of our common animals in Irish folklore and mythology while creating your very own animal mask to take home on Culture Night
The full programme can be viewed online here; www.culturenight.ie/wexford. While all events are free some may require pre-booking.
Culture Night is brought to you by the Arts Council in partnership with Wexford County Council and delivered by participating artists, groups and venues throughout County Wexford.
Full list of Culture Night events in Co Wexford
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
‘S Í Do Theanga Féin Í! – An tOireachtas, Halla na bProinsiasach – 7.30pm–9.30pm
Battlefields & Weapons of 1798 – National 1798 Rebellion Centre – 6.30pm–7.15pm
Bharatanatyam – The Dance of India – Gorey Library – 4pm–4.45pm
Bohdan Grechko – National Opera House – 6.15pm–6.25pm
Bridge Singers – Greenacres Gallery – 7.45pm–8.15pm
Ceol Cuisle – Greenacres Gallery – 5.30pm–6pm
Ceol Mo Chroí Culture Club – The Book Café – 7pm–9pm
Circular weaving workshop for Parents & Teenagers – The Family Resource Centre, Kilmuckridge – 6pm–8pm
Classical Guitar Performance with Chien Buggle – Gorey Library – 5pm–5.53pm
Collaborative Clay – Gorey Art Collective – 7pm–9.30pm
Culture Night at Gorey School of Art – Gorey School of Art – 7pm–9pm
Culture Night at Yola Hedge School – Yola Hedge School – 4pm–7pm
Cumas Trad Band and Exhibition – The Shambles, New Ross – 5pm–9pm
Discover St Michael’s – St Michael’s Parish – 4pm–9pm
Drawing on the Blues – Social Sketching & Live Music – Scouts Hall – 8.30pm–10pm
Enniscorthy Arts and Culture Festival – Windows of Enniscorthy Art Trail – Enniscorthy Arts and Culture Festival – 4pm–7.30pm
Enniscorthy Arts and Culture Festival reconstruction of historic painting ‘The Shadow’ – Enniscorthy Castle – 5pm–6pm
Filling the Well – Coast Rosslare Strand Hotel – 6pm–9pm
From Verse to Song – Enniscorthy Library – 4.30pm–5.30pm
Gorey BOTB presents: Culture Night Showcase – Loch Garman Arms – 7pm–10pm
Gorey Choral Group at Gorey Library – Gorey Library – 7pm–7.45pm
Gorey Ukes – Gorey Library – 6pm–6.45pm
Gorey Urban Sketchers Exhibition – Kate Kos Studio – 6pm–9pm
Hatch Lab Culture Night Event – The Hatch Lab – 8pm–9.30pm
HFC Concert Band & Northumbria Wind Band – Rowe Street Church – 7.30pm–9.30pm
Imagine That! – Access 2000 – 6.30pm–7.30pm
Live at the Library: Danescastle Music Group – New Ross Library – 6.45pm–7.15pm
Live at the Library: Hugh Millar – New Ross Library – 7.30pm–8pm
Live at the Library: New Ross Drama Workshop – New Ross Library – 8.15pm–9pm
Live at the Library: New Ross Singers – New Ross Singers – 6pm–6.30pm
Loch Garman Brass Band – Loch Garman Brass Band – 7.45pm–8.15pm
Mandala of Light – Temple Shannon Community Centre – 8pm–11pm
Memory of a Free Festival – Late Opening & Gallery Tour – Wexford Arts Centre – 5pm–9pm
Mummers Hat workshop – Sigginstown Castle – 7pm–9pm
Music for Wexford – St Iberius Church – 7pm–8.40pm
New Music – The Yellow Bellows – Music Generation Wexford – St John’s Amphitheatre, Enniscorthy – 5.30pm–6pm
Norman Shield Painting – Enniscorthy Castle – 4pm–5pm
North Wexford – Then and Now, Images of the Past & Present – Gorey Library – 4pm–7.45pm
Oyster Lane Theatre Group – Talbot Hotel – 8pm–8.30pm
Painting with Caroline Bergin Art – Caroline Bergin Art Studio – 6.30pm–8pm
Plants of the World – Enniscorthy Community Allotments – 6pm–8pm
Red Moon Creative Arts Theatre – Selskar Square – 4pm–5.30pm
Romeo & Julie – The Handball Alley, Coolgreany, Gorey – 8pm–10pm
Saltmills and St Kearns Culture Night – Colclough Memorial Hall, Saltmills – 4pm–11pm
Screen Wexford Showcase – Gorey School of Art – 6pm–10pm
Sculpt a Garden Feature with Clay & Willow – National 1798 Rebellion Centre – 7pm–9pm
Sheila Grace Dance Company – Selskar Square – 4.40pm–5pm
Singing Letts… In a Wexford Village – Wexford Arts Centre – 8pm–9pm
St Patrick’s Fife and Drum Band – St Peter’s Square Bandstand – 4.30pm–5pm
The Fringe Collection – Kelly’s on the Corner Food Yard – 6pm–9pm
The Helen Blake: An Evening of Song & Story at St Mogue’s – St Mogue’s Community Venue – 5.30pm–9.30pm
The Makers House – The Makers House – 5pm–8.30pm
The Old Schoolhouse – Old Schoolhouse Rathnure – 4pm–9pm
The Peacock’s Feathers – Greenacres Gallery – 6.15pm–7pm
The Quay Notes – National Opera House – 6.30pm–6.50pm
The Stone Sessions – Johnstown Castle – 8.30pm–10.30pm
Tour of the Lighthouse – Hook Lighthouse – 5pm–5.45pm
Trad Session with John Roche and Friends – Wexford Library – 5pm–6pm
Westgate Visual Art Studios – Open Studios – Westgate Visual Art Studios – 5.30pm–8pm
Wexford Chamber Choir – National Opera House – 7pm–7.25pm
Wexford Festival Opera – National Opera House – 7.30pm–7.50pm
Wexford Folk Orchestra – Greenacres Gallery – 8.30pm–9pm
Wexford Light Opera Society – National Opera House – 8pm–8.30pm
Wexford School of Ballet & Performing Arts – Selskar Square – 5.45pm–6.10pm
Where the Slaney Remembers – Bunclody Library – 4pm–5pm
Wildlife Masks & Irish Myths – St Mary’s Hall, Fethard-on-Sea – 4pm–7pm