The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) will open its doors on St Stephen's Green for Culture Night 2013 on Friday, 20 September. A lecture entitled 'Surgeons' Halls - building the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland' will take place in the Albert Theatre at 6pm. This talk is free of charge to the public but due to limited capacity, booking is essential.

Professor Clive Lee, Head of the Department of Anatomy, RCSI will give this Surgeons' Halls lecture which charts the history of RCSI from its foundations on a disused Quaker graveyard, to the part it played in the 1916 Rising, right up to the present day. The talk is based on book he edited in 2011 of the same name (published by A. & A. Farmar).

Speaking ahead of his talk, Professor Lee said: "I'd like attendees to leave the talk knowing the story behind one of Dublin best known buildings and how it came to be built. They will also learn about some of the people who have shaped the College's history over the past 229 years. As the public look at the facade of RCSI from the Luas, they might consider how the College has contributed to the health of the nation, and indeed the world, since 1784."

RCSI is part of the South Georgian Quarter on Culture Night and this is the second time RCSI has participated the annual event. Culture Night 2013 will take place on Friday, 20 September from 5pm-11pm. It is a night to explore, experience and enjoy culture in all its forms in Dublin and across 30 towns, cities and counties in Ireland. Arts and cultural organisations open their doors until late with hundreds of free events, tours, talks and performances for the public to enjoy.