Macnas Halloween parade returns to Galway after four-year break

The spectacular storytellers are set to reclaim the streets of Galway once more.

Parades aren’t reserved for Paddy’s Day and Pride alone – they can also be part of your Halloween celebrations with Macnas Theatre Company set to take over Galway city after a four-year hiatus.

Macnas specialise in big spectacle theatre with giant puppets and impressive sets, and are known for transforming GAA clubs, disused warehouses, bogs, mountains and car parks into immersive performance art spaces. This year, their parade will be inspired by the legend of La Loba – a wild Wolf-Woman who collects and preserves the bones of animals, humans and gods that are in danger of being lost to the world and sings them back to life by moonlight.

 

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As darkness falls on the Halloween Sabbath La Lola will prowl Galway’s city streets, standing at almost 5m tall and coutured head to toe in a unique creation of deathly white skulls 14m round. La Loba’s two pet wolves will lead the spectacle, which is set to feature 121 performers in nine individual scenes filled with signature Manas magic.

Speaking about the parade’s return, director James Riordan, said “This year’s parade is going to be a feast for the senses as we welcome audiences into the world of La Loba, a wild wolf woman who has sung life back into all manner of almost forgotten tribes and Gods, conjuring them to the streets once more in a communal celebration of the ancestors that have come before us.

Via Macnas / Emilija Jefremova

“Expect over 100 performers, dancers, huge puppets and live musicians in stunning costumes, all coming together for our first street parade in four years and bringing with them Macnas’ signature collaborative creativity, electric energy and joyous abandon. We are back and we are ready to make some magic!”

The Macnas Halloween Parade takes place in Galway city from 17:30 on Sunday, Oct 29th, travelling from University Road to Fr. Griffin Park.

Header image via Macnas / Emilija Jefremova

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