Cruel to be kind!
An estimated 65,000 spectators lined Galway streets in near perfect October conditions to witness a succession of blinking giants, detachable vagrants and ‘cruelty men’ who terrorised in this year’s Macnas Halloween Parade.
It was a baptism of fire for Dan Colley in his first turn as artistic director – but he was certainly blessed with a fine, dry evening and one of the biggest crowds to turn out in years along a slightly extended route as far as Father Griffin Road.
“It was a real relief with the weather after a relentless few weeks of rain. The skies opened up and made way for us and you could just feel this sense of relief on the streets,” exclaimed Dan, who took over the reins this year from Noeline Kavanagh as she prepares a mammoth spectacle for the 2020 celebrations.
The main character of ‘Danse Macabre’ was Conor, a twelve-foot vagrant, featuring a style of puppetry new to Macnas aficionados.
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“Conor was a really lightweight puppet who was able to go up and integrate with the drummers. It’s the first time we’ve the main character without a chassis and is a style of puppetry the company has been working on for a few years and now it’s progressed,” reflected Dan.
“He was a quite a cheeky lad, he could knock people’s hats off but he wouldn’t let them touch him so it was an opportunity for the character to show his personality and allow a narrative.”
A mystic granny called Marina Sabina whose giant eyes blinked was one of the showstoppers of the procession, moving “with beautiful grace and open-heartedness”.
The three stilters with wide brim hats and lights for eyes – labelled ‘the Cruelty Men’ were among the more frightening creatures on the night, allowing children and adults “to confront their fear together in a safe place”, throwing up a scary but thrilling experience.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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