Spraoi
Here are some pics from Spraoi Festival 2024.
Thanks to all the artists, musicians, parade cast, audiences, tech-crews, volunteers, funders, and sponsors who unleashed joyous mayhem on Waterford’s streets for three days.
Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city, offers a host of Samhain (Halloween) attractions over October 25th, 26th and 27th Bank Holiday Weekend, presented by Waterford City and County Council in association with Fáilte Ireland. The programme launches on Friday evening, 25th, with Dearg Dúth, a stunning procession by award winning spectacle specialists Spraoi.
The Dearg Dúth procession commences at 7.30 p.m. in Cathedral Square, before performing along Lady Lane, Michael Street, Broad Street, then making its way for a finale performance at the Beach Tower, Jenkin’s Lane car park, (Behind Guiney’s).
Spraoi returns to perform in Longford’s Shadows and Fire Samhain Procession on Monday evening, October 28th.
The spectacle production is produced by the Arts Office at Longford County Council and is supported by Fáilte Ireland. A team of Longford based artists are creating spectacular pieces for the show and they will be joined by Spraoi spectacle artworks and artists. Spraoi performed in Longford for the first time at last year’s event.
This year’s Spraoi Festival was a truly international gathering of artists and arts managers from Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, France, Germany, Egypt, Finland, Portugal, Latvia, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, and U.S.A.
Along with vibrant street performance premieres there were seminars and showcases that enabled Irish practitioners to exchange ideas and plans with overseas colleagues. All professional exchange events were made possible by Spraoi’s partnering organisations: Irish Street Arts and Spectacle network (ISACS), Culture Ireland, the Southern Regional Assembly, Circostrada, and The Arts Council.
Artist Paul Bolger is currently collaborating with Spraoi Artistic Director Mike Leahy on the company’s upcoming production Dearg Duth Fire and Shadows Samhain Procession, which will be staged in Waterford City on October 25th.
Paul’s character and storyline designs are integral to the production’s creation at Spraoi Studios. Paul Bolger is an award-winning artist, animator, designer, writer, producer and director. Paul began his film career in the late 1980’s at Sullivan Bluth Studios on animated movies such as The Land Before Time and All Dogs Go to Heaven. He has since published several books and films. He is particularly inspired by Irish Celtic imagery, characters and stories. Parallel with his graphic career Paul has always been an active musician and coincidentally played a storming set at Spraoi Festival this year with his band Forge Hounds.
Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city. Its medieval streets, squares, and quays come alive for Halloween.
Ancient Ireland meets contemporary culture as Spraoi presents its Shadown and Fire Samhain Procession on Friday evening, October 25th . There are Halloween themed events throughout the October Bank Holiday Weekend.
Why not visit other Waterford attractions when you visit. Here are some Halloween and Samhain attractions in Waterford City and County.
Other Halloween attractions, click here
Also See:
visitwaterford.com
discoverireland.ie
irelandsancienteast
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If you think we can assist in reimagining your town or city and bring your creative ideas into reality contact T.V. Honan, Spraoi Director, tv@spraoi.com
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Spraoi Festival has become something of an August Bank Holiday institution. For three days, the city devotes itself to a variety of street art and spectacle, featuring hundreds of performers, live music, and an array of new street theatre – Irish and international.
Spraoi festival is a free urban festival in beautiful Waterford in the south-east of Ireland. It attracts nearly 100,000 people and the city streets act as a stage for acts from around the world”
Over three days the city is host to a plethora of street theatre entertainment, both local and from overseas, serving up what must be the best value and one of the most inclusive festivals on the circuit, with the entertainment being free and open to all.