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THIS year’s Earagail Arts Festival, 9th July to 24th July, features a number of exciting events for the whole family to enjoy all along the most northern part of the Wild Atlantic Way.
In a special preview ahead of the festival, which kicks off on Saturday 9th July, Donegal Woman has picked out a range of events, including lots of FREE entertainment, that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and therefore make the perfect family events.
Earagail Arts Festival is now offering a number of day-time shows at Oakfield Park, Raphoe, through a Pay What You Want Bucket Collection!
The festival is humbly grateful to all the support and interest by the community in Donegal as it comes back to a full live programme this year. Earagail Arts Festival is also very conscious of the impact of higher costs of living on families in these current difficult times. Taking this into consideration, the festival has undertaken to offer all 4pm Circus shows at Oakfield Park, Raphoe on Thursday 14th, Friday 15th, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th July as now a Pay What You Want / Donation to the Artists and Festival, if you can do so. Anyone who has purchased tickets already will be offered a refund, while entry to shows on the respective days will be on a first come, first serve basis. Oakfield Park will have extended opening hours, with great park attractions, food specials in the on-site Buffers Restaurant and trains running. Normal gate fees apply and the festival shows are payable through the Pay What You Want Bucket collection. For information on Oakfield Park entry fees visit www.oakfieldpark.com
For full details on all of this year’s Earagail Arts Festival events visit www.eaf.ie where you can also book tickets. Enquiries can also be made from the festival box office on Tel +353 (0) 74 91 20777 or in person at An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny.
Here’s your guide to the family-friendly events available to book now this July:
Wild Atlantic Weekend
Link: https://eaf.ie/wild-atlantic-weekend-is-back/
Date: 21st – 24th July
Location: Malin & Culdaff in North Inishowen
The Wild Atlantic Weekend will see a mix of family orientated events for all ages. A fantastic mix of circus, theatre, acrobatics and interactive performance to keep everyone entertained all weekend:
- Bang On presented by Tumble Circus
- Superstar Circus Circus Disco
- Bill and Fred’s Adventures
- Baubo Theatre presents Cabinet of Curatrocities
- The Adventures of the Exotic Dr. Proctor
Drop-In, Hands On, Art Room
Book: https://eaf.ie/events/drop-in-hands-on-art-room/
Date: Saturday 9th July – Saturday 27th August
Time: 11am – 5pm Tuesday – Friday, 1pm – 5pm Saturdays
Location: Letterkenny
Venue: Regional Cultural Centre
Admission: Free
The RCC will once again create a large-scale, hands-on, art room curated by local art practitioner Anne-Marie Kilfeather where visitors can find out more about the exhibitions on display and make their own artworks. The art room is a big hit with younger children, but children of all ages from 1-100 are welcome to have a go.
Ballet Poulet
Book: https://eaf.ie/events/ballet-poulet/
Date: Saturday 9th July & Sunday 10th July (Tory Island, 3pm), Pay What You Want Bucket Collection in aid of Artists & Festival
Sunday 17th July (Oakfield Park, Raphoe, 4pm), Pay What You Want Bucket Collection in aid of Artists & Festival
Time: 3pm (Tory Island), 4pm (Raphoe)
Duration: 40 minutes
Admission Pay What You Want Bucket Collection (Oakfield Park will have extended opening hours, with great park attractions, food specials in the on-site Buffers Restaurant and trains running. Normal gate fees apply and the festival shows are payable through the Pay What You Want Bucket collection. For information on Oakfield Park entry fees visit www.oakfieldpark.com.)
Two world class Olympian-level idiots bring to you their latest masterpiece. She has prepared a poetic, delicate and tender ballet. He has prepared a bad ass display of mayhem.
Fanzini Productions is one of the foremost street arts companies based in the Republic of Ireland, touring nationally and internationally. Con Horgan, founder of Fanzinis has been performing since 1997 in a duo show Fanzini Brothers and performing solo as Professor Plunger.
Since 2013 Con Horgan and Kim Mc Cafferty have been creating and touring street theatre shows Circus Jukebox, Spailp and now Ballet Poulet.
“These guys are clever, surreal and not just a little bit silly” The Irish Times
A Handful of Dreams
Book: https://eaf.ie/events/a-handful-of-dreams/
Date: Sunday 10th July
Time: 6pm & 8pm
Location: Letterkenny
Venue: Aura Leisure Centre
Admission: Free
A Handful of Dreams is an awe-inspiring and heart-warming outdoor show that combines aerial and circus arts with live Irish traditional music and dance. Infusing a specially designed outdoor rig with an ancient magic, this beautiful celebration will connect to the hearts of each audience member while restoring the joy of being alive.
The show is inspired by the poem The Stolen Child by William Butler Yeats (1865–1939). The innovative musical score is grounded in traditional Irish music and folklore but embraces a world of contemporary composition and sound design.
Circus Factory Circus Camp
Book: https://eaf.ie/events/circus-factory-circus-camp/
Dates: 14th, 15th, 21st & 22nd July
Time: 10am-12noon: 7-10 years, 1pm-3pm: 10+ years
Venues/Times: Thursday 14th July & Friday 15th July (Raphoe, Oakfield Park, 10am-12noon:7-10 years, 1pm-3pm: 10 + years )
Thursday 21st July & Friday 22nd July (Malin, The Big Top on The Green, 10am-12noon: 7-10 years, 1pm-3pm: 10 + years)
Admission: €10 (per child for 2 workshops on consecutive days)
A two-day circus camp hosted in The Big Top at Oakfield Park, Raphoe and The Big Top on The Green in Malin where the stars of Super Star Circus supply the juggling balls, clubs, diablos, flowerstick, hula hoops, and maybe a unicycle or two for a fun “try it out” atmosphere. Nobody is too old or too young to try, and the way YOU use the equipment is the correct way to use it.
Traditional Tinsmithing with Tom McDonnell
Book: https://eaf.ie/events/traditional-tinsmithing-with-tom-mcdonnell/
Date: Thursday 14th July
Time: 2pm to 5pm
Location: Letterkenny
Venue: Donegal County Museum
Admission: Free
Traveller tinsmithing is an important part of the Traveller community’s culture and heritage and Ireland’s craft past. One of the last remaining Traveller Tinsmiths in Ireland, Tom McDonnell presents a workshop in conjunction with the exhibition made by Donegal Traveller Project on their book, Still Here, Still Proud. Curated by EAF New Curator Clodagh McIvor.
Bang On
Book: https://eaf.ie/events/bang-on/
Date: 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd & 24th July
Time: Various
Location / Venue / Admission: Thursday 14th & Friday 15th July, 4pm, Raphoe, Oakfield Park – Pay What You Want Bucket Collection in aid of Artists & Festival (Oakfield Park will have extended opening hours, with great park attractions, food specials in the on-site Buffers Restaurant and trains running. Normal gate fees apply and the festival shows are payable through the Pay What You Want Bucket collection. For information on Oakfield Park entry fees visit www.oakfieldpark.com)
Thursday 21st & Friday 22nd July, 3pm, Malin, The Big Top on The Green – €7 per adult, €5 per child per tent show (€20 for 2 adults & 2 kids, €25 for 2 adults & 3 kids)
Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th July, 2pm, Malin, The Big Top on The Green – €7 per adult, €5 per child per tent show (€20 for 2 adults & 2 kids, €25 for 2 adults & 3 kids)
A ragin’, ravin’, revolutionary big top show of class circus, big laughs and dead on skill. Over one hour of hammer smashing Big Top Belfast-inspired circus. Death-defying aerialist, hardcore acrobat, mind bending jugglers and loads of Craic. A circus to activate people and inspire hope.
Fadó Fadó (Once Upon a Time or Long Time Ago) – Stories from all over
Book: https://eaf.ie/events/fado-fado/
Date: Saturday 16th July
Time: 3pm
Location: Letterkenny
Venue: Regional Cultural Centre
Admission: Free
Animator and YouTuber John D Ruddy (Manny Man) has been developing a new animation with Shruti Sonar, Khushi Sonar, Mona Abd El Jalil, Douniea Abd El Jalil, Mohammed Ali, Eyad Ali, Michelle “Precious” Adekoya and Louis Dube, to tell us the story of who they are and the stories that shape them, which will be brought to life in an animated short film screened at the Regional Cultural Centre on Saturday 16th July at 3pm.
The Adventures of The Exotic Dr Proctor
Book: https://eaf.ie/events/the-adventures-of-the-exotic-dr-proctor/
Date: 16th & 17th July (Raphoe), 23rd July & 24th July (Malin)
Time: 1pm (23rd) & 3pm (16th, 17th & 24th)
Location: Raphoe & Malin
Venue: Oakfield Park & The Grass on The Green
Admission: Free (Please note, Entry Fee to Oakfield Park still applies, visit www.oakfieldpark.com)
The Adventures of the Exotic Dr. Proctor is the story of an intrepid explorer who travels through different worlds in his magic Horsebox. Follow the magical doctor as he tries to create his camp, so he can continue his adventures while exploring the exotic land that he has arrived in.
Suitable for all ages, a fun family show with a twist of magic and a hint of circus. Come and explore with the doctor and see what goes wrong while creating his campsite!
Superstar Circus & Circus Disco
Book: https://eaf.ie/events/superstar-circus-circus-disco/
Date: 16th, 23rd & 24th July
Time: 4pm
Location: Raphoe & Malin
Venue: Oakfield Park (Raphoe) & The Big Top on The Green (Malin)
Admission: Various. Saturday 16th July, 4pm – Raphoe, Oakfield Park, Pay What You Want Bucket Collection in aid of Artists & Festival (Oakfield Park will have extended opening hours, with great park attractions, food specials in the on-site Buffers Restaurant and trains running. Normal gate fees apply and the festival shows are payable through the Pay What You Want Bucket collection. For information on Oakfield Park entry fees visit www.oakfieldpark.com)
Ready, Steady, Hup, it’s time for some super cool circus with Jimmy, Gabbo, and AD. These three circus enthusiasts love to do Circus, cause it’s the bestest thing ever.
On a mission from the Circus Gods to share their amazing tricks with the world, whether the world wants it or not, our circus heroes will charm their way into your hearts. You’ll see that there’s no such thing as failure, only another chance to try it again. And before you know it, you’ll be trying it too.
Circus Disco (40 min)
Super Star Circus is followed by the Circus Disco, where the stars of Super Star Circus supply the Juggling Balls, Clubs, Diablos, Flowerstick, Hula Hoops, and maybe a Unicycle or two for a fun “try it out” atmosphere. Nobody is too old or too young to try, and the way YOU use the equipment is the correct way to use it.
Bang On, Swarm & Polina Shapkina
Book: https://eaf.ie/events/bang-on-swarm-polina-shapkina/
Date: Saturday 16th July & Sunday 17th July
Time: 7pm
Location: Raphoe
Venue: Oakfield Park
Admission/Cost: €15 (Adult) /€10 (Child)
A triple bill soirée of acrobatic, tumble-tastic circus for all the family.
Tumble Circus’ Bang On is a ragin’, ravin’, revolutionary big top show of class circus, big laughs and dead on skill. Over one hour of hammer smashing Big Top Belfast-inspired circus. Death defying aerialist, hardcore acrobat, mind-bending jugglers and loads of craic. A circus to activate people and inspire hope.
Bill & Fred’s Adventures
Book: https://eaf.ie/events/bill-freds-adventures/
Date: Saturday 23rd July & Sunday 24th July
Time: 12noon
Location: Malin
Venue: The Big Top
Admission/Cost: €7 per adult, €5 per child per tent show (€20 for 2 adults & 2 kids, €25 for 2 adults & 3 kids)
Bill and Fred – two professional and well-travelled adventurers, both less than useless without one another, together become master resolvers of the absurd. The duo brings a profound level of precision to their movement built through years of experience in improvisation, clowning and dance.
The work is an adventure that begins at an end, searching for belongings and backpacks. An adventure both failing to start and finish at the same time. Together the duo are breaking new ground artistically bringing levels of professional dance and clowning to new heights.
Cabinet of Curatrocities
Book:https://eaf.ie/events/cabinet-of-curatrocities/
Date: Saturday 23rd July & Sunday 24th July
Time: 3pm (23rd) & 1pm (24th)
Location: Malin
Venue: The Grass on The Green
Admission: Free
Step right up, and prepare to avert your eyes! Hold your breath, hold your tongue, hold your nose… Baubo Theatre’s world-famous Cabinet of Curatrocities is in town. Delight in lost relics and treasures from the far-off reaches of the world, the likes of which have never been seen on the streets of your fair city.
Two hideous and lovable characters use an inventive mix of puppetry, song and dance to tell the tales of how they came by their treasures. But be warned: this cabinet is not for the faint of heart – and what is seen cannot be unseen.
Earagail Arts Festival is funded by Arts Council Ireland, Donegal County Council, Wild Atlantic Way and Fáilte Ireland.
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