Macnas
Macnas (Irish for "joyful abandonment") is a performance company based at the Fisheries Field in Galway, Ireland. Its public performances are noted for being "pioneering, inventive and radical" in style.[1] The company has been credited with changing the nature of public entertainment in Ireland and is regarded as highly influential within the field of spectacle performance.[2]
Founded in 1986, the company has performed in over 20 countries across the globe. Its parades have been a centre-point of Halloween, St. Patrick's Day and formerly Galway International Arts Festival festivities in Galway city, drawing crowds of up to 50,000 people on to the city streets.[3]
Macnas toured alongside U2 as part of the Zooropa tour in 1993.[4] The company simultaneously helped to ring in the new millennium in three cities: Galway (Eyre Square), Dublin (Merrion Square) and New York City (Times Square).
In March 2016, Macnas performed at the opening ceremony of SXSW in Austin, Texas.[5][6] In November 2017, Macnas performed as the closing act in the Land of Green Ginger programme at Hull UK City of Culture 2017.[7][8]
Macnas offices are spread across two locations in Galway city. Administration and rehearsals mainly take place in Fisheries Field. Large-scale construction primarily takes place at a warehouse in Liosban.
The Liffey Press and Macnas have published Macnas: Joyful Abandonment, a 250-page history of the company.[9]
References
- ↑ "The magic behind the mask as magic of Macnas parade looms - Independent.ie". Independent.ie. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
- ↑ "Talent on parade". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
- ↑ "Thousands turn out in Galway for Macnas parade". RTE.ie. 2016-10-30. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
- ↑ Canadanne. "U2 Massive Heeds". www.canadanne.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
- ↑ "Macnas Street Performance - SXSW Official". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
- ↑ "Irish again set to make some noise as SXSW kicks off in Austin". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
- ↑ "Giant puppets march through Hull". BBC News. 2017-11-12. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
- ↑ Corcoran, Sophie (2017-11-11). "Dazzling Land of Green Ginger parade bewitches thousands". hulldailymail. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
- ↑ "The Liffey Press Macnas: Joyful Abandonment". www.theliffeypress.com. Retrieved 2018-09-17.