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2016 Press Releases

Bards to Brain Games: Culture Night at UCC

8 Sep 2016
Ethnomusicology MA student JJ Riordan performing one of his own compositions for the Javanese Gamelan.

University College Cork (UCC) is set to continue its contribution to Cork Culture Night next Friday (September 16) with a myriad of tours, talks, workshops and readings.

UCC will open up the vibrancy of campus to visitors of all ages, with a fantastic line-up of events dotted across its historic rooms and outdoor spaces. 

UCC’s School of English and the Boole Library Special Collections invites you to discover the texts that inspired William Shakespeare’s greatest works. In the illustrated talk ‘Shakespeare’s Sources and the Boole Library’s Resources’, Dr Edel Semple will explore Shakespeare’s use of his sources and offer an insight into book history using the Library’s rare, early printed books.

Dr Semple will explore a range of texts from the huge history book the Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland by Holinshed that Shakespeare consulted for Richard II and Henry V, to Plutarch’s The Lives of the noble Grecians and Romans which was a source for Antony and Cleopatra, to The Discovery of Witchcraft which shaped Shakespeare’s depiction of Macbeth’s witches, to John Lyly’s comedies that influenced Shakespeare’s romantic comedies and writing style.

“The talk will consider the materiality of these sixteenth and seventeenth century books, from their printing and binding to their handwritten notes, doodles, and bookworm holes that can reveal much about Shakespeare’s world, the history of the volumes, and their use by readers since the Elizabethan era,” Dr Semple commented.

‘Shakespeare’s Sources and the Boole Library’s Resources’ begins at 6pm and takes place in the Research Skills Room (level Q-1), Boole Library, University College Cork. Please note that space is limited so early arrival is advised. Visitors to the Library for Culture Night will also have the opportunity to tour the “Cervantes ‘Prince of Wits’ (1616-2016): Life, Work Legacy” exhibition in the Library.

This Culture Night talk has been kindly supported by Elaine Harrington, Assistant Librarian for Special Collections, and it is part of the British Council ‘Shakespeare Lives’ programme that commemorates the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death this year. Further events for Shakespeare 400 are planned to take place in UCC in October and November, and in several universities around Ireland, with details available on the Shakespeare in Ireland blog.

“Cork Culture Night is one of our favourite nights of the year at the UCC Visitors’ Centre.  This year as part of the events we will be running an evening edition of our popular George Boole Tour, which will be coming to end later this month,” commented JP Quinn, Head of UCC Visitors’ Centre.

The tour involves a visit to the beautiful Boole stained-glass window in UCC's Aula Maxima, the Ogham Stone Corridor and the Main Quadrangle. “Our journey through Boole's legacy will come to an end at the newly-refurbished Crawford Observatory.”

The tour will commence at 8pm from at the Visitors’ Centre, located on the Quad at UCC, and will last approximately 80 minutes.

“There are many experts on George Boole, but who better than the man himself to bring the past to life and transport us to 1849 to guide us through the history of UCC and his own relationship with the college.”

Visitors will hear Boole talk about why he came to Cork, his time here and his impact on not only the university, but also the worldwide scientific community.

Located in the Enterprise Centre on the North Mall, UCC School of Applied Psychology will offer visitors a fun, interactive introduction to psychology led by the staff and students behind the research being carried out at the School, hosting a range of classic experiments from 5pm to 8:30pm.

Activities will include Brain Games and Art Therapy, and visitors will have the opportunity to experience a virtual world with a driving simulator and VR headset or have their stress tested by the School’s experts.

Creative Walks and Marvellous Maps will be on offer at The Glucksman, which will send visitors out on creative and inspiring wanderings. Early booking on 021 4902760 / info@glucksman.org advised.

4pm – Teddy Bears Walk: If you go down to the woods today, you’ll find lots of activities for you and your teddy bear! Suitable for 0-5 years.

6pm – Drawing Walk: Bring the whole family along for a drawing discovery with artist Sarah O’Brien. This creative walk through UCC will allow you to explore a wide variety of drawing materials and techniques.

6:30pm – Photography Walk: Join photographer Brendan O Sé as he leads you on a photo walk in our historic grounds that will make the most of your camera phone.

7pm - Architecture Walk: Discover the city’s architecture with architect Patrick Creedon in this meander to St. Peter’s church where the Making Ireland Modern pavilion is on display.

4pm to 8pm – Marvellous Maps: Drop-in Art Workshop. All welcome. Track your Culture Night journey in this illustration workshop for all ages. Led by professional artists, this workshop invites you to create your own unique culture map of Cork City. No booking required.

Tyndall National Institute will offer hands-on electronics prototyping workshops with MakerDojo. Visitors will learn how to design and make their own electronics at 5pm and again at 6pm, with each workshop lasting 45 minutes. 

Aimed at adults, the workshops are inspired by the Maker movement, a growing worldwide community of hobbyists, students and enthusiasts who take a creative, DIY approach to technology, science and engineering. The sessions will give practical experience of STEM areas and the opportunity for visitors to become confident inventors, experimenters and creators. Register in advance. 

Staff and students at UCC Department of Music, located at St. Vincent’s Church, Sundays Well Road, will offer three guided encounters with world musical traditions. Workshops will feature contrasting Asian musical traditions: Indian classical music, led by the sitar and tabla; the resonant gongs, xylophones and other instruments of Ireland’s foremost Indonesian gamelan; and the strident tones of a Taiwanese ritual band.

Workshops will last for 40 minutes, and run concurrently at 6pm, 6.40pm and 7.20pm, allowing participants to attend as many as they wish. No prior experience is needed, and there will be opportunities to try out instruments and singing.

UCC Professor Graham Allen and UCC’s Writer-in-Residence for 2016/17 Conal Creedon will be reading from their own works in what promises to be an exciting evening of entertainment and insight at Waterstone’s Cork from 5pm.

Graham Allen will be reading from his newly-published collection The Madhouse System (New Binary Press 2016). He is a prize-winning poet whose poetry has been published in numerous journals. He won the 2010 Listowel Single Poem Prize and has been shortlisted for a number of other major awards including The Crashaw Prize and The Strong/Shine Prize. His first collection The One That Got Away (2014) and his on-going epoem Holes (2006-) are also published by Cork-based publishers New Binary Press.

Cónal Creedon is a short story writer, novelist, playwright, and documentary film-maker. His stage plays include: The Trial of Jesus [2000], nominated for The Irish Times Theatre Awards], Glory Be To The Father [2002], Second City Trilogy [2005] and When I Was God. He is the author of the novel Passion Play and of the legendary radio series Under The Goldie Fish. His most recent book The Immortal Life of Michael O'Leary is published by Cork City Library.

Cork Culture Night will take place across 100 venues and 200 events all FREE until late.

If you’ve organised a UCC-linked event for Culture Night, get in touch with us at mandc@ucc.ie

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