Culture Night 2025 celebrated in south Mayo town

Ballinrobe Culture Night took place in the Pavillion at Ballinrobe Racecourse on Friday night, with the venue hosting the event for the first time.

There was a vast array of events taking place, and the packed venue celebrated culture, food and music from around the world. Twenty different countries were represented on the night and those in attendance also saw traditional Irish music and dance, and explored traditional crafts from around the world.

There was also an opportunity to participate in creative workshops such as hair braiding, cultural face painting, and various family friendly events for all ages.

Mary Jackson from the Tacú Family Resource Centre was one of the main organisers of the event and she said:

“It is our first time hosting Culture Night in the Racecourse, and it has been a really good venue for tonight’s celebrations. Someone actually said to me that this event is getting better and better every year, and people are so happy, and there was a great buzz here tonight.

We also had a drumming workshop outside in the marquee and that helped us free up space inside the pavilion to accommodate extra chairs, and tables.”

“It was great to see so many people from the town coming out to this event and that makes a huge difference. We had World Africa Day in Ballinrobe Racecourse in May and that helped us prepare for an event like this at our new venue.

“I would like to thank John Flannelly (Ballinrobe Racecourse manager) for accommodating Culture Night at such a fabulous facility. Tonight, has worked very well, especially the shuttle buses which brought people to the venue and back into town afterwards.

“Nationally it is the 20th anniversary of Culture Night, and I am delighted that Ballinrobe was able to stage such an event.”