Culture Night at St. Mary’s Adult Education

Culture Night at St. Mary's Adult Education: Colour, Ceilí, and Community

Culture Night turned St. Mary's Adult Education into a festival of creativity—part studio, part dance floor, part concert—and every corner buzzed with the lovely mix of learning and fun you only get when neighbours come together.

Spray Paint, Big Smiles

The evening kicked off with a lively spray-painting session led by crafts, graphic design tutor James Ryan. Armed with stencils, tape, and bold colours, participants of all ages tried their hand.

Children especially took to it—laying out designs on large sheets, experimenting with fades and silhouettes, and watching their ideas come to life in a burst of colour. We then laminated the finished pieces so the young artists could take home their pieces and put them on display.

A few lucky designs also made the leap onto cotton: by the end of the workshop, a small run of hand-designed T-shirts had been created. Nothing like wearing your own artwork home.

Doris Leads the Dancing

Meanwhile, the main room filled with the unmistakable energy of Irish set dancing as Doris Ryan led the crowd through the Siege of Ennis and the Walls of Limerick. It was such an irresistible invitation to join in that some of our staff also joined.

A Young Maestro on the Box

The night closed with music from Ed Costello, who—at just ten years old—has already earned awards for his button accordion playing. He didn't just meet expectations; he lifted the roof.

Ed's set blended reels and jigs, a great accompaniment also to Doris and the others' dancing, to the kind of playing that makes you forget how young the musician is and simply listen. Talent inspires, especially when it's shared so generously.

Until Next Time

If this Culture Night proved anything, it's that creativity thrives when the community gathers. And here at St Mary's Adult Education Centre we will have plenty more creative showcases to come.

Phoebe Alegria