Culture Night 2024: Bilingual Takin’ the Mic

Bíonn Takin’ the Mic ag Áras Scríbhneoirí na hÉireann ina shár-oíche filíochta, focal labhartha agus grinn i mBéarla agus i nGaeilge. In éineacht le ban an tí Bláithín de Burca, beidh Gustav Parker Hibbett ann mar aoi speisialta chomh maith le ‘mic-oscailte’* le haghaidh scríbhneoirí, filí agus ceoltóirí. Fáilte roimh chách!

Join us this Culture Night for an evening of poetry and prose in Irish and English! With the wonderful comedian, Bláithín de Burca, as our host, we’ll have readings from special guest poet Gustav Parker Hibbett, as well as an ‘open mic’* for writers, poets and musicians. Everyone welcome!

Tá fáilte roimh dhaoine a thugann a gcuid alcól féin leo más maith leo an oíche a cheiliúradh le gloine nó dhó!

BYOB. We welcome audience members to bring their own alcohol

Photos (above): Headshot of Bláithín de Burca, headshot of Gustav Parker Hibbett 

Interested in performing on the night?

An bhfuil spéis agat a bheith páirteach san oíche? Ba chóir do thaibheoirí a spéis a chlárú roimh ré tríd an suirbhé google. Tabhair faoi deara go bhfuil sé mar aidhm againn am ardáin gach duine a chur in iúil dóibh seachtain roimh an imeacht.

Performers should register their interest in advance via the google survey. Please note, we aim to inform performers of their slot via email a week before the event.

There is no ideal Takin’ the Mic performer

Níl aon taibheoir idéalach i Takin’ the Mic. Cuireann muid romhainn ardán a thabhairt do réimse taibheoirí, idir taithí agus seánra. Cabhróidh na ceisteanna sa tsuirbhé google linn an imeacht a eagrú agus a bheith cinnte de go bhfuil éagsúlacht i measc na dtaibheoirí. Tugann oícheanta Takin’ the Mic deis iontach duit aird a tharraingt ar do chuid scríbhneoireachta. B’fhéidir gur mhaith leat píosa atá scríofa le tamall a roinnt le lucht éisteachta nua.

At our Takin’ the Mics, we aim to showcase a diverse range of performers, from genre to experience. The questions in the google survey will help us to curate the event’s line up and make sure we are choosing a varied selection of performers. Our Takin’ the Mics are a great opportunity to showcase your new writing. You may wish to share new material or dust off a past piece to share with a new audience.

Cur i láthair i nGaeilge? Tá na Takin’ the Mics dhátheangacha ann do gach duine le sult a bhaint as an Ghaeilge, is cuma iad a bheith iomlán líofa nó díreach an cúpla focal acu. Tá fáilte roimh gach leibhéal cumais. Tugann muid spreagadh do dhaoine léamh i nGaeilge den chéad uair agus do dhaoine a ba mhaith leo píosaí a léamh i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla.

Performing in Irish? The aim of our Bilingual Takin’ the Mics is for everyone to enjoy Irish, from fluent speakers to those with just the cúpla focal. All levels welcome! We encourage writers who are performing in Irish for the first time, and those who wish to read parts in Irish and parts in English.

Each performer will be given three minutes. Tugtar trí nóiméad do gach taibheoir. 

M.C: Bláithín de Burca

Headshot: Bláithín de Burca

Bláithín de Burca Mar thaibheoir rialta ar ardáin grinn Bhaile Átha Cliath agus pearsantacht mhóréilimh teilifíse agus idirlín, tá ardmholadh forleathan faighte ag an raon leathan buanna atá ag de Burca. Ó oscailt d’ainmneacha clúiteacha ar nós Willa White, Neil Delamere agus David O’Doherty go dtí a seónna féin a thabhairt chuig féilte mór le rá lena n-áirítear féilte Fringe Bhaile Átha Cliath agus Dún Éideann, tá Bláithín tar éis na sluaite a mhealladh ó BÁC go Dubai agus ar ais, í féin a chur in oiriúint do lucht éisteachta de gach aois agus gach cúlra agus ag cur orthu titim i ngrá léi. Tá sí ina ball gníomhach den Hysteria Comedy Co-Operative, ag rith neart oícheanta ag Sin É agus níos faide i gcéin ó 2022. Tá roinnt mhaith gradam agus ainmniúchán faighte aici as a cuid oibre mar thaibheoir agus cruthaitheoir. Bhí sí ina bun rannpháirtí ar an gcainéal Youtube rathúil Facts, agus is Tryer rialta í ar an TRY Channel a bhfuil breis agus 1.3 milliún síntiúsóir aige, chomh maith lena buanna aisteoireachta agus guthú a thairiscint do raon sceitsí agus tionscadail le healaíontóirí mór le rá. Tá a obair le feiceáil ar BBC, TG4, BLOC, agus le déanaí mar láithreoir ar an chlár faisnéise The Irish For Sex ar RTÉ – a fuair dea-cháil i bhfad is i ngearr i mbliana agus a dhaingnigh a stádas mar cheann de na fuirseoirí is oscailte, is inniúil agus is aitheanta in Éirinn le rud éigin le rá aici.

Bláithín de Burca A regular billing on the Dublin comedy scene and popular TV and internet personality, de Burca’s diverse range of talents have garnered widespread acclaim. From opening for renowned comedians like Willa White, Neil Delamere and David O’Doherty to bringing her own shows to prestigious festivals such as Edinburgh and Dublin Fringes, Bláithín has captivated crowds from Dublin to Dubai and back, adapting with and endearing herself to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. She is an active member of the Hysteria Comedy Co-Operative, running several nights at Sin É and beyond since 2022. She has also received several awards and nominations for her work as a performer and creator. She was an original contributor to overnight YouTube sensation Facts channel, and is a regular Tryer for the TRY Channel which boasts over 1.3 million subscribers, as well as offering her acting and voiceover talents to a range of sketches and projects by popular artists. She has appeared on BBC, TG4, BLOC and her recent performance presenting the critically-acclaimed RTÉ documentary The Irish For Sex this year further solidified her status as one of Ireland’s most recognisably open, tuned-in comedians with something to say.

Special guest: Gustav Parker Hibbett

Headshot: Gustav Parker Hibbett

Gustav Parker Hibbett is a Black poet and essayist. Their first poetry collection, High Jump as Icarus Story, was published in 2024 with Banshee Press, and they are currently pursuing a Literary Practice PhD at Trinity College Dublin.

Tacaíonn Foras na Gaeilge leis an imeacht seo. This event is supported by Foras na Gaeilge.

Access our Building

Tá Áras Scríbhneoirí na hÉireann i 19 Cearnóg Pharnell, Baile Átha Cliath 1. Is teach Seoirseach é agus, ar an drochuair, níl ardaitheoir ann. Tá cúig chéim isteach ón tsráid. Bíonn bunús na n-imeachtaí i Seomra Kiely ar an chéad úrlár agus is gá tríocha céim a dhreapadh chuige sin.

The Irish Writers Centre is currently housed in 19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1. This is a Georgian building which unfortunately does not have a lift. There are 5 steps into the entrance level. The majority of the event’s activities will take place in the Kiely room which is on the first floor and requires climbing 30 steps in total. Please do inform us of any accessibility requirements you might have before the night so we can make any necessary arrangements.

If you have any questions about the event, please email info@irishwriterscentre.ie.