Going through hoops to get to Áras Éanna

A call-out for street artists and performers to take time out on Inis Oírr in partnership with Áras Éanna Arts Centre has had a huge response from all across Ireland. Lucy Medlycott of the Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network (ISACS) says the organisation is delighted by the huge interest from performers who are being given a chance to enjoy a month-long residency on the smallest of the Aran Islands, in association with Áras Éanna Ionad Ealaiona.

An acrobatic hand-to-hand performance company, Cikada Circus, were selected for the first month-long residency and were due to visit Inis Oírr this month but that has been put on hold due to the new restrictions and will be rescheduled at a later date.

Led by Henrik Gard, originally from Sweden, and Ali Stanger, from the UK, this group organised Ireland’s first acrobatic convention, Irish Acro, and normally divide their time between Dublin and Belfast.

“We’d like to use the Island’s landscape as a springboard for acrobatics; jumping off ledges, running up walls, and the like,” says Henrik. “We have an idea of creating either a show or a walkabout that is entirely site- specific where we only use the surroundings to create and complete our acrobatic tricks,” he adds.

“For me, Inis Oírr is a place that frees your mind and lets you look at your life,” says Lucy Medlycott of ISACS. “I just love it out there. Being there really grounds you. It’s very good for releasing stress and getting back to the essential thing of just being.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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