Venues and public spaces are hosting thousands of free events centred on the arts, heritage and culture this evening, as the 18th edition of Culture Night is celebrated across the country.
The annual event, which is directed by the Arts Council and run in partnership with local authorities and cultural organisations, is the biggest collective celebration of culture in Ireland.
First held in 2006 in Temple Bar, what began as a series of events being held in 40 venues has now grown into an all-island celebration.
Arts Council Director Maureen Kennelly says the event "showcases our vibrant culture".
"One of my favourite things to see on Culture Night is generations of families and groups of friends, young and old, coming out to explore together and enjoy the richness and diversity of Ireland's culture today," she added.
RTÉ is also partnering with the event, broadcasting across the evening from multiple regional venues, with a special programme airing from Dún Lúiche in Co Donegal.
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The programme will see live music and arts off the Donegal coast, featuring performances by the Murder Capital, Aby Coulibaly and Olesya Zdorovetska.
RTÉ Radio 1’s Arena programme is also holding a Culture Night Special live from Manorhamilton in Co Leitrim, while Wicklow’s Mermaid Theatre in Bray stages 2FM Rising.
Ms Kennelly said the night was an act of generosity by the arts community to "fling open their doors" and welcome everybody.
"There is a whole spectrum that will attract people of all ages, of all tastes, of all backgrounds," she said, adding that they expect to exceed last year's attendance of 750,000 people."
Elsewhere among the events around the country for all ages are a queer poetry slam and open mic night in Clare, an evening of music and dance with talks on astronomy under the stars in the Kerry gaeltacht, and a cabaret event at Cork's Marina Market.
Derry will experience the joy of Wall Dances - mesmerising dance solos performed by artists from Echo Echo projected upon the City Walls.
Meanwhile, kids in Kildare can enjoy Fun Finger Puppets, a fun textile workshop creating animal finger puppets with designer Aideen Cross.
Minister for Culture Catherine Martin described it as a "major highlight" in the calendar, adding that additional funding will see Culture Night's Late Scheme 19 events held late on and continue through the night.
"Innovative and inclusive in scope, and catering to a range of audiences, these events highlight the key role the cultural sector has in realising our vision for a vibrant and safe Night-Time Economy."
A flavour of the acts included in this year's expanded late-night programme include a pop-up Gaeltacht on Galway’s Middle Street, a Culture Shock Jam Dance event in Limerick, an improvised jazz event in Smithfield, Dublin, while Ballina will play host to an outdoor concert.
The Arts Council's book-gifting project Read Mór also returns, which will see a curated list of 30 titles from Ireland’s literary talent be gifted to patients of seven selected hospitals nationally.
A full breakdown of events across the country is available on the Culture Night website.
