Published: Wednesday, 14th July, 2010 5:00pm

Free culture day-fest for Athlone people to enjoy

Details of local showcase are published

There's a diverse selection of events taking place around Athlone as part of Culture Night on September 24.

The full day and night of free entertainment, showcasing the town's rich cultural offering, is being organised by Westmeath County Council as part of a national initiative.

A photographic exhibition depicting the history of the town's famous playhouse, takes place all day in the Dean Crowe Theatre, while the Athlone Arts Group will hold an exhibition of works in the Athlone Towncentre from 10am to 9pm.

The Castle Writers will be reading from a selection of new work in the Aidan Heavy library from 4-5pm, while a group of transition year students will perform an anti-drugs awareness play 'The Hooded Well' in the Dean Crowe Theatre from 5-6pm.

Micheal McDonnell from Viking Tours will be sailing down the Shannon for an historical and environmental talk from 5-6.30pm.

'Seeking Calm' by Dara Ennis, paintins of the sea, beach and sky, will be exhibited from 6-9pm in the Dean Crowe with a wine and cheese event while the Midlands Photographic Club will hold an exhibition of work from 6-9pm in the Athlone Towncentre. And while you're flitting from one event to another, you might just bump into Brian Cowen, Enda Kenny and Eamonn Gilmore, courtesy of Tonnta Street Theatre from 6-9pm.

Attitude Dance Company will perform 'The Loss of the Sacred' in their studios in Blyry with post-show workshops for children and adults from 7-9pm, while back in town in the bar of the Dean Crowe, the Golden Sisters will perform from 7-8pm.

In the Passionfruit Theatre from 7pm, there will be a literary reading of PG O'Dea's play 'Johnnie's Britches' and a reading from Joe Ducke's 'Tell Me Sweet Little Lies'.

There will also be an unveiling of a portrait of Joe Ducke by Ruth Ryan, daughter of PG O'Dea.

The Athlone Film Club will screen 'The History Boys' in the Sheraton Hotel fromo 8pm and the Athlone Literary Festival will be based in the Prince of Wales Hotel from 8pm where a academics, poets, novelists, biographers, publishers and literary agents will gather for some good conversation.

Also taking place in various locations around the town throughout the day will be performances by Athlone Community College Orchestra, trad group and Irish dancing group along with Encore Dance Academy.

To cap off the evening, Athlone Little Theatre will have a presentation at 8pm, the Coosan Cutlure Group present trad music, song and dance followed by a sketch on the life and times of Michael Collins, also in the Athlone Little Theatre from 9.30pm.