Oíche Chultúir OCBÁC 2026 / DCU Culture Night 2026

DCU Library Snake Hunt

Pick up a worksheet from the ground floor and follow the clues to find the snakes hiding in the library. Fill in the answers and return the completed sheet to claim your prize! Thanks to our talented local crafters who made the sneaky serpents as part of our make-a-snake competition.

Times: 5 - 8 pm
Location: Ground floor of Library
Age Group: Age 3+

Tour de Library Cycling Challenge

Hop on one of our library bikes and see how far you can cycle in 2 minutes. Beat the top score in the adult or child category and win a prize (while they last). Just do your warm-ups and meet us on the top floor of the library!

Time: 5 - 8.30 pm
Location: 3rd floor of Library 
Age Group: 8+

The Chill Out Room

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of Culture Night. Help us colour in our beautiful library snake and enjoy some quieter activities at our colouring and board games tables. You'll find The Chill Out Room in room G201, beside the lift on the 1st floor of the library. 

Time: 5 - 8.30 pm
Location: 1st floor of library
Age Group: All Ages

Drumcondra 150 Exhibition: Highlights from the St Patrick’s College Archive

Exploring Belvedere House, the development of St Patrick’s College, student life and teacher training, this display brings together correspondence, photographs and objects spanning over 150 years of education in Drumcondra. This exhibition, curated by DCU Library's Archives and Special Collections team, ties in with the Drumcondra 150 celebrations.

Time: 5 - 9 pm
Location: Ground floor of Library
Age Group: All Ages

Compiled Notations Exhibition

Julie Merriman's exhibition investigates modes of inscription, replication and transmission using present-day and historical data as research material. By repurposing obsolete office copying materials the DCU Visual Artist-in-Residence examines the history of mark making in the context of drawn, written and programmed language.

Time: 5 - 9 pm
Location: Ground floor of Library
Age Group: All Ages

Zine-Making Workshop

Make your own one-of-a-kind mini artist book with help from Zinester Hana Flam in this drop-in workshop. We invite both children and adults to join us on the ground floor to discover a great way to get creative and share your ideas, art and stories through a unique zine. 

Time: 5.30 - 7.30 pm
Location: Ground floor of Library
Age Group: 8+ 

Silent Disco

Be your own DJ at the Silent Disco in Cregan Library, with support from the DCUSU. Drop in to us on the top floor of the library, collect your headphones, choose a DJ channel and show off your dance moves!

Time: 5.30 - 8.30 pm
Location: 3rd floor of Library
Age Group: 5+ 

St Patrick's College and Teacher Education, 1875-2016

This lecture will trace the development of teacher education from the establishment of St Patrick's College on Clonliffe Road in 1875, to its movement to Drumcondra. Professor James Kelly will identify the contribution of the Vincentian community, examine the programme of instruction pursued in the Independent state, and its restructuring in the 1960s and 1970s. This endured until the 1990s when the College embarked on the relationship with Dublin City University that resulted in its incorporation into the University in 2016. This lecture ties in with the Drumcondra 150 celebrations.

Time: 6 - 6.30 pm
Location: G401, Library 3rd floor (beside lift)
Age Group: 12+

Cregan Library Tours

DCU’s Cregan Library is a landmark building in North Dublin. Designed to form a visual link between the campus and the community, it includes a three-storey glass lantern overlooking Drumcondra. Meet us at the library desk on the ground floor and in just 30 minutes we'll guide you through this extraordinary piece of modern architecture.

Times: 6 - 6.30 pm and 7 - 7.30 pm 
Location: Ground floor (meeting point)
Age Group: 12+ 

From 18th Century Villa to 21st Century University Campus: The Evolution of DCU, St Patrick’s Campus

In this illustrated talk, Dr Jonathan Cherry will examine the most significant landscape changes at DCU, St Patrick’s Campus over the past two centuries. Drawing on archival material, historic maps and photographs, he will trace its transformation from a private villa and demesne, to the nationally renowned St Patrick’s Training College, Drumcondra, to a campus of Dublin City University. This talk ties in with the Drumcondra 150 celebrations.

Time: 7 - 7.30 pm
Location: G401, Library 3rd floor (beside lift)
Age Group: 12+

Setanta Strings Orchestra

Relax and enjoy the beautiful sounds of the Setanta Strings community orchestra on the ground floor of the library! Founded in 2010, Setanta Strings is a volunteer-run community group giving adults the opportunity to learn the violin in a friendly, supportive environment. The group provides free tuition and instrument loans and regularly shares their music with local nursing homes, schools and community groups.

Time: 7 - 8 pm
Location: Ground floor of Library
Age Group: All Ages

Turas Treoraithe de Leabharlann Uí Chriagáin

D'oscail Leabharlann Uí Chriagáin OCBÁC a doirse i 2015. Dearadh é chun nasc a chruthú idir an campas agus an pobal agus tá radharc ón leabharlann amach ar Dhroim Conrach. Buail linn ar an mbunúrlár agus tar ar turas treoraithe linn den fhoirgneamh suntasach seo.

Am: 7:30 - 8 i.n.
Áit Choinne: Bunúrlár na Leabharlainne
Age Group: 12+ 

Seisiún Ceoil Gaelach

Bígí linn sa phuball ceoil agus buail do chosa leis an gceol traidisúnta ónár gceoltóirí cumasacha. 

Join us in the music tent and tap your toes along to a session of lively Irish traditional music from our group of gifted musicians. 

Time: 5 - 5.15 pm
Áit: An Puball Ceoil 
Age Group: All Ages

Setanta Strings Orchestra

Spread your picnic blanket out on the lawn and enjoy the beautiful sounds of the Setanta Strings community orchestra! Founded in 2010, Setanta Strings is a volunteer-run community group giving adults the opportunity to learn the violin in a friendly, supportive environment. The group provides free tuition and instrument loans and regularly shares their music with local nursing homes, schools and community groups.

Time: 5.30 - 6.30 pm
Location: The Music Tent (outside on the lawn)
Age Group: All Ages

Traditional Irish Music with Comhaltas Seán Treacy CCÉ

Enjoy the ceol and craic of a Traditional Irish music session with musicians from Comhaltas Seán Treacy. This large and vibrant branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann offers classes in traditional music, singing and dancing for all ages. Inclusion and friendship are central to the branch ethos and members are encouraged to participate in the branch's musical groups, who perform in fleadhs and festivals and host regular music sessions. 

Time: 6.30 - 7.00 pm
Location: The Music Tent (outside on the lawn)
Age Group: All Ages

Trad Dioscó

Tapaidh an deis sult a bhaint as ceol fuinnúil ag Trad Dioscó ó Gerry's Trisco sa phuball ceoil- i gcomhphairtíocht le muintir Na Fianna agus an tOireachtas. 

Don't miss this high-energy Trad Disco from Gerry's Trisco in our music tent, delivered in partnership with Na Fianna and the Oireachtas. 

Am: 7 - 9 i.n.
Áit: An Puball Ceoil (taobh amuigh ar an bhfaiche)
Aoisghrúpa: Gach aois/All ages

Campus Tours with Dr Ruth McManus

Join Dr Ruth McManus for a special guided tour that explores the historical, architectural and social fabric of St. Patrick's campus dating back to the 1600s. The tour will feature the notable Georgian Belvedere House, the Gothic Revival (former) chapel and attached cloister, and the modernist Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel by architect Andrew Devane. The campus tours tie in with the Drumcondra 150 celebrations.

Tour Times: 5:15 - 6 pm, 6:30 - 7.15 pm, and 7:45 - 8.30 pm 
Meeting Point: The steps of Belvedere House. Please arrive 5 minutes before the tour is due to start.
Age Group: 12+

DCU Café

Grab a coffee, fruit or a light bite from our friendly catering staff at the DCU café. You'll find the café on the ground floor of Cregan Library.  

Times: 5 - 9 pm
Location: Ground floor of the Library

Rockfield Ice Cream van

Make your Culture Night experience even sweeter with whippy cones, sprinkles, sauces, and treats galore from the Rockfield ice cream van. 

Times: 5pm - 9pm
Location: Outside on the lawn