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2015 Press Releases

Culture Night a virtual reality at UCC

17 Sep 2015
UCC has many colourful events on for Cork Culture Night 2015. Pictured: Promo image from UCC Granary Theatre which presents Mark O’Rowe’s rarely performed play ‘Made In China’, directed by UCC alumna Margaret Keohane as part of their ‘New Directors Festival’.

UCC has a fascinating and quirky feast in store for Culture Night this Friday 18th September, with a wide array of events that will appeal to all ages.

Gamers in particular will appreciate the chance to get their hands on an Oculus Rift virtual reality headset or jump behind the wheel of a driving simulator at UCC’s School of Applied Psychology. George Boole aficionados and newcomers alike will be transported back to 1849 to experience what life was like for the forefather of the information age. A guided tour of the UCC School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences is sure to cause delight and fright in equal amounts. Those who want to drop in on many events across the night might enjoy ‘Ten-Minute Tales’ from UCC's School of English.

UCC-linked events on Friday 18th September include:

The Aula Maxima at UCC will host FUAIM and Sounds from a Safe Harbour from 1pm-2pm as they present Playing Your Heart Out. This entails a performance and conversation about the principles of Music for Heart and Breath, a contemporary classical composition by Richard Reed Parry (Arcade Fire) in which the musicians use their own heartbeat and breath to dictate the pace and pulse of the music. See http://culturenightcork.ie/events/288/ucc-aula-maxima/   

As part of the Sounds from a Safe Harbour festival, the Glucksman Gallery will present an exhibition in the historic Crawford Observatory of the mesmerizing seascapes of renowned Japanese artist Hiroshi Sugimoto. Running from 11am-8pm, the exhibition will evoke the connection between tide and moon, sea and stars. See http://culturenightcork.ie/events/289/crawford-observatory/ (Outside Culture Night, the exhibition runs 15 – 19 September, 11 am – 5pm).

A family friendly event from UCC School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences offers visitors the chance to get the inside track on the science happening in Cork City. They can drop in anytime from 5pm-8.30pm or take a guided tour (5:30pm, 6:30pm and 7:30pm) of ancient fossils, slithering reptiles and carnivorous plants. See http://culturenightcork.ie/events/160/ucc-school-of-biological-earth-and-environmental-sciences/ 

A fun, informative and interactive introduction to psychology is on offer from UCC’s School of Applied Psychology as part of their 50th anniversary. Eight areas are on show from 5pm-8.30pm, including one where visitors can use an Oculus Rift headset for gaming. Other kiosks include a driving simulator and psychometrics lab, as well as areas on mindfulness, ageing and the reliability of eyewitness memory. See http://culturenightcork.ie/events/290/ucc-school-of-applied-psychology/

UCC’s School of English invites the public to discover some of the world’s most celebrated writers and texts in a literature extravaganza. Join them from 6-8pm in the beautiful Council Room on the Quad for ‘Ten-Minute Tales’. The ‘Tales’ will introduce literary works from the age of Shakespeare to 20th century Ireland, delve into the lives of poets and playwrights, and discuss authors as diverse as Edmund Spenser, Harper Lee, and Cormac McCarthy. See http://culturenightcork.ie/events/201/ucc-school-of-english/

The UCC Department of Italian in association with CASiLAC (Centre for Advanced Studies in Languages and Cultures) will host a lecture and readings from a monumental translation of Giacomo Leopardi’s Zibaldone (Notebooks) in the O’Rahilly Building, UCC at 4pm. See http://bit.ly/1Mbmcib

UCC is celebrating the bicentenary of genius George Boole throughout 2015. He was UCC’s first professor of mathematics and a pivotal figure who can be described as the ‘father of the information age’. There are many experts on George Boole, and who better than the man himself to bring the past to life and transport us back to 1849, guiding us through the history of UCC to explain what it was like ‘Being Boole’? The tour will start from the UCC Visitors’ Centre at 7pm. http://culturenightcork.ie/events/161/ucc-visitors-centre/

Boole will also teleport down to Cork Unitarian Church from 7pm. His biographer, Emeritus Professor Des MacHale, will give a talk, followed by Olivia Frawley, Family History Project Manager, covering Boole’s intriguing family and life story. See http://georgeboole.com/events/lectures/culture-night.html

Tyndall National Institute invites the public to experience the fun of technology and making, as it opens its doors from 6pm-9pm for an evening celebrating science and technology. On offer is a tour of the state-of-the-art lab facilities, and a series of interactive demonstrations on electronics and light-based technologies. See http://culturenightcork.ie/events/287/tyndall-national-institute/

UCC Granary Theatre presents Mark O’Rowe’s rarely performed play ‘Made In China’ at 8pm (free entry but booking advised via info@granary.ie / 021 4904275 - 16+ age limit). Directed by UCC alumna Margaret Keohane as part of their ‘New Directors Festival’, it is set in a completely re-imagined Irish underworld. Made in China involves martial artists, rogue cops and savage lowlifes. A dreadful accident causes a violent tug-of-war between two criminal foot soldiers over the loyalty of a third. Self-loathing, guilt and loneliness emerge in this frenzied narrative, which culminates in a blistering battle for survival. See http://culturenightcork.ie/events/223/the-granary-theatre/

The UCC community is also taking part in events across Cork City:  

UCC98.3FM will be live on air from 7pm, in support of the colourful outdoor event Cork Ignite (running from 8.45pm-9.45pm), which will use 3D projection mapping and Cork College of Commerce as its canvas, bringing the monumental building to life. Simultaneously, an accompanying music score and lighting will illuminate the scene. Produced by the National Sculpture Factory and Create, renowned artist Simon Mckeown will work with local artists and disability agencies to produce a spectacular event that will dazzle and delight. UCC98.3FM will broadcast a live audio description of the event for the visually impaired or those who cannot make it there in person, as well as interviews with those involved in the Arts in Cork, including the event organisers and DJs from COPE Foundation in Cork  (Audience advisory: There will be some flashing lights. Please dress warmly). See http://culturenightcork.ie/events/293/cork-ignite/

Previous work - Ghosts Master by Simon Mckeown from simon mck on Vimeo.

Cork Concert Orchestra are running a free concert (booking required) in City Hall in association with the Sounds from a Safe Harbour Festival from 10pm-11pm, with many UCC students among the performers. Organised by Eamon O'Riain of Tyndall National Institute and under the baton of Principal conductor Tom Crowley, the orchestra will play a string of classical hits. See http://culturenightcork.ie/events/99/city-hall-concert-hall/

Dr Eileen Hogan of Applied Social Studies UCC also sits on the Board of IndieCork Festival, who are running a festival sneak preview from 7pm-8pm ahead of the 2015 launch in October (refreshments on offer – booking essential). See http://culturenightcork.ie/events/269/indiecork-festival/

Cantabile Vocal Ensemble, an award winning community choir based in Bishopstown GAA Club will unite with Cork Retired Teachers Association Choir (Primary) to perform the World Premiere of “It’s Not Just Black and White, Girl…” This piece was composed by their Musical Director Mary G. O’Brien, who is a final year PhD in Composition (Music) student at UCC. Performances are on the hour from 7pm, with the last performance at 9pm (duration 45 minutes). See http://culturenightcork.ie/events/256/cantabile-vocal-ensemble/

See the Culture Night Cork City website for all events happening in Cork on Friday, 18th September.

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