Artist to do live sketch of Rory Gallagher for Cork Culture Night

Legendary rock and blues guitarist Rory Gallagher is to feature in Cork's contribution to Culture Night when a local artist will do a live charcoal sketch of the musician to raise funds for a charity helping young people combat depresssion.

Artist Gary McShane will spend the day in Gallagher's pub on Mac Curtain Street executing the charcoal sketch of the Donegal born guitarist who grew up in Cork and who bought his first electric guitar at Crowley's Music Shop just around the corner from the pub.

“I was only eight when Rory died but I’ve become a huge fan listening to his music since - you can’t really beat Rory for great rock and blues,” said Gary who explained that he expects to start the sketch around 12 midday and finish it sometime between 6pm and 8pm.

“I like do live drawings and turn it into an event because it attracts a lot of interest from people so I suggested it to the people in Gallaghers and they were keen on the idea - the sketch will be based on a side profile shot of Rory so it should be very iconic.”

At the end of the evening, the sketch, which Gary will do on an A0 size sheet measuring 84cms by 118cms, will be auctioned to raise funds for the Bounce Back charity with works with young people suffering from depression and mental health issues.

Another artist joining in Culture Night in Cork is comic book artist, Will Sliney who has been chosen by US giant, Marvel Comics as their main artist on titles such as Spider-Man, Avengers and X Men and whose work will be exhibited at Cork County Hall.

Sliney, who was chosen as Cork Person of the Month for July, will give a talk on his work at the conference room at County Hall when he will discuss how he was chosen to illustrate the opening issue of Spiderman 2009.

Meanwhile in Mitchelstown, rapper Garry McCarthy (aka GMC) will host an interactive introduction to hip hop, rap and beat making in the local library while novelist Louise O’Neill will read from her novel Only Ever Yourself at Ballincollig and Carrigaline libraries.

Back in the city, Cork City Council and Triskel Arts Centre are hosting a Secret Concert with Lisa Hannigan at a city location, which won't be revealed until the night, and which Cork City Arts Officer, Liz Meaney said promises to be "a very special and memorable moment".

Another new development in the Culture Night programme is an Outdoor Cinema in Fitzgerald Park involving Cork City Council and Cork Film Festival which kicks off at 7.30pm with a screening of the the Oscar nominated short Give up Yer Aul Sins.

The evening continues with a screening of the beautifully animated The Secret of Kells by Cartoon Saloon before concluding with a 9pm screening of the much loved adaption of Roddy Doyle’s novel, The Commitments.

Cork Culture Night programme also includes a Concert by Candlelight by The Vanbrugh Quartet in Cork City Hall at 10pm. More information on the 200 culture night events hosted by Cork CityCouncil can be found at culturenightcork.ie.