Carlow County Council’s set to mark Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union.
Each local authority across the country’s been tasked with organising events in support of the six-month tenure and between October and December four flagship offerings in Carlow will span areas of Heritage, Literature, Visual Art & Music as part of Cultúr 2026: Sharing Ireland’s Culture.
The offering’s been developed in collaboration with artists, communities, organisers and cultural partners across the county, the results set to showcase both Carlow’s distinct cultural character and our shared European heritage.
The roll-out starts on the 2nd of October with European Horizons: Visual Arts on the European Stage, a visual artist exchange programme developed with partners in María de Huerva, Spain, which culminates in a specially curated event at VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art and St Patrick’s College, Carlow, featuring workshops, a panel discussion and a showcase of work by participating artists. A particular highlight will be an evening artists’ panel discussion led by Nora Hickey M’Sichili, Director of the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris.
On the 9th of October, the European Day of Rock Art will be marked by Harmonious Carlow – organised by Carlow Heritage Office and Carlow County Council Library Service, this celebrates the prehistoric rock art of the Blackstairs Mountains featuring children’s workshops with local artist Jules Michael, adult workshops with local artist Máiréad Holohan, and a lecture by Prof. Muiris Ó Súilleabháin at the Step House Hotel, Borris.
Storylands Exchange: Writer in Residence Cultural Exchange Programme, facilitated by Carlow County Council’s Writer in Residence, Caroline Busher, will see young writers from Carlow participate in a virtual exchange with the city library in Luxembourg, Carlow’s EU Presidency partner country. The project will conclude on the 5th of November as part of a Civic Reception.
While Bridge of Sound: Youth Music Exchange will bring together Music Generation’s senior youth traditional ensembles and Project SMOK, an exciting young indie-trad trio, for a unique collaboration celebrating cultural connection, creativity and youth participation through traditional music. The project culminates in a final performance on the 6th of December.
For more visit irelandculture2026 or Carlow.ie
