The Marine Institute presents ‘A Night To Sea’ for Culture Night 2025

To celebrate Culture Night 2025 the Marine Institute will present ‘A Night To Sea’, an evening of marine-themed cultural experiences at the Marine Institute’s headquarters in Oranmore, Co Galway.

On Friday 19th September 2025, from 6.30pm to 9.30pm, visitors can enjoy a tapestry of music, song, spoken word, visual arts and crafts, all inspired by the ocean, coastal life, and the communities shaped by our maritime heritage. 

"The Marine Institute is delighted to present ‘A Night To Sea’ for Culture Night 2025, which not only showcases the creative talents of our staff, but also brings together local and national artists, musicians, and community groups,” said Dr Rick Officer, CEO of the Marine Institute. “This special event will celebrate our shared connection to the ocean, and reflects the inspiration, heritage, and wonder that the sea brings to our lives."

Programme highlights include a performance by the Marine Singers Choir, a group of Marine Institute staff and friends who have been performing together for over 12 years currently under the direction of Carmel Dooley.

Also featured is The Achill Island Basking Shark Fishermen, a unique musical and multimedia project led by The Achill Sound that preserves the oral history and cultural legacy of Achill Island’s 20th-century basking shark fishing industry. This performance blends recordings, archival footage, and original visuals with traditional and newly composed Irish music.

A talk by Noël Wilkins, professor emeritus of genetics at the University of Galway, will share history on the Galway Bay oyster fishery, and accounts of marine ventures envisioned for Galway long before the arrival of the Marine Institute.

Photography exhibitions from Marine Institute staff Mick Mackey and Felix Sproll will showcase stunning seascapes and landscapes, alongside a display by the Solas Photography Club based in Oranmore which will feature scenes from the Wild Atlantic Way. 

There will be visual art displays from Marine Institute staff Aoife O’Sullivan, Galway-based artist Gerry Fogarty, and Tom Coleman (Wild Atlantic Art) who uses real fish in creating his prints of marine life. 

Visitors can also enjoy ocean-inspired arts and crafts from the Marine Institute’s Crafting Club and the Institute’s Explorers Education Programme, and knot-tying demonstrations by the Galway Bay Sailing Club. Marine Institute staff will be on site discussing the Marine Institute’s vital role in protecting and promoting our ocean.

A ’Night To Sea’ will be held at the Marine Institute in Oranmore, Co Galway (H91 R673) from 6.30pm to 9.30pm on Friday 19th September 2025. This event is free and open to audiences of all ages (no bookings required). The full event programme is available to download – A Night to Sea Programme.

Culture Night is brought to you by the Arts Council in partnership with Galway County Council. 

ENDS

For more information, please contact:
Kathleen Sweeney  e: kathleen.sweeney@marine.ie | m: +353 (0)87 094 5754
Sinéad Coyne  e: sinead.coyne@marine.ie | m: +353 (0)87 947 7090
Communications Office, Marine Institute  e: communications@marine.ie | t: +353 (0)91 387 200