Volunteers needed in run up to Callan festival

Volunteers are needed to take part in workshops to prepare for Callan’s Abhainn Rí Festival.

People of all ages are invited to participate in free workshops including giant puppet making and operating, hula hoop and poi skills, animation, drumming, stilts, street arts, aqua tuba instrument making and more.

Volunteers are also needed to help out with stewarding, invigilating for exhibitions, assisting in workshops, face painting, manning the box office, etc during the festival from July 23-31.

Under the theme of inclusion and participation, the festival will include free workshops, field day, concerts, performances, parade, dog show, heritage walk and exhibitions. The festival will end with a night-time spectacle.

For the week of the festival, local community groups will respond to the given theme of “What happens when the lights are turned off?” in whatever way they choose.

They will also be invited to participate in inclusive workshops, which will culminate in a multimedia illuminated night spectacular on Green Street in Callan on July 31. Traffic noise will be replaced by music and song; petrol fumes will surrender to the scent of street-vendors’ food. Harsh amber street lamps will give way to the soft beauty of lantern-light. The street will be inhabited by magical glowing costumes, fantastical luminescent creatures, dancing fire pois, giant paper lanterns and masked revellers. And best of all, the people of Callan will be the artists – transformed from passive spectator to active participant.

For more information or to book a place on one of the free workshops, contact Aisling on 087 9759015, email abhainnrispectacle@gmail.com or see www.abhainnrifestival.com.