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The St Brigid’s Cow at the Biddy’s Day parade in Killorglin last year.
COMMUNITY groups are taking part in a ‘Street Spectacle’ project which is set to come to fruition for the St Patrick’s Day parade in Tralee.
Kerry County Council Arts Office is delighted to have Caoimhe Dunn back in the county as facilitator on their Street Spectacle project.
This year she is focussed on Tralee, working with groups in Mercy Mounthawk, St Brigid’s Family Resource Centre and the Wetlands, Tralee. Last year, Caoimhe worked with groups in Killarney and Tralee for the St Patrick’s Day parade as well as the Biddy’s Day parade in Killorglin.
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“I’m delighted to be back in Kerry – there is a real appetite for getting involved in this type of project,” says Caoimhe.
“Our starting point is the story of St. Patrick lost at the sea and being guided ashore by the call of the curlew. We want to bring this story to life on the streets of Tralee with lots of colour and music.”
One of the last strongholds for the breeding curlew in Ireland is Stacks Mountain where the Curlew Conservation Programme is working with landowners and other local interests to help the bird survive in Ireland as a breeding species.
“Irish myths and legends are a great theme for street spectacle”, says Kate Kennelly, Arts Officer with Kerry County Council. ”People are familiar with the characters and stories, and love to see them being brought to life in front of them. They are full of colour and drama and there is plenty of room for creative re-imagining.”
The model making workshops are hands-on and guided by Caoimhe with all materials being provided.
“People will learn new skills that they can take away with them and bring to other events in the community,” says Caoimhe. “ We will also cover aspects of street performance for the parade.”
The project is supported by Kerry County Council and Creative Ireland. Groups and individuals who would like to be involved, or want to find out more, can contact the Arts Office at Kerry County Council on 066 7183541 or arts@kerrycoco.ie
There needs to be more an organised Creative Collision between the various community groups taking part in the parade and local Artists, Musicians, Actors, Writers & Performers, if Tralee is ever to break the look or feel of a provincial village St. Patricks day parade which it currently has 🙁
LOUTH VILLAGE ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpHHjKdZt0w
Galway city and Macnas is the direction Tralee should be looking towards.
Macnas Parade 2018 – Galway, Sun Oct 28th:#
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avwp2qzk7l0