Made in Darndale Festival to feature aerial acrobatics, history tours, a dog show and pop-up circus

The Made in Darndale Festival will see the streets, squares and parks of Darndale filled with art exhibitions, walking tours, street parades, aerial acrobatics, celebrations of Traveller culture and a Circus Big Top led by Ringmaster John Connors.

Made in Darndale, supported by the Arts Council and Dublin City Council, is part of the Creative Places Darndale initiative, a three-year project to incorporate the arts into everyday life in the area. The festival is the culmination of six months of community engagement, workshops and training and will showcase the talents and skills of hundreds of members of the Darndale community.

Catherine Martin T.D., Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media said: “It is so important that public investment in the arts reaches all citizens. That is why this Arts Council led Creative Places Programme is an amazing opportunity for communities such as Darndale, which had not benefitted from sustained arts investment in the past, to build local arts programmes which will benefit everyone who lives here."

Kicking off the festival on Thursday, The Darndale Parade at midday will see young people from across the village showcasing their musicianship, dance moves and theatrical talents, followed by a Pop-up Circus performance at 1pm.

On Friday, the Village Centre will be transformed into the Made In Darndale Arts Exhibition featuring work by local artists and renowned historian Pat Liddy will be hosting an hour long History of Darndale Walking Tour.

Later in the day, the Village Centre will put on Darndale Through the Years, a storytelling event which will detail the area’s local history and heritage.

Saturday will see the launch of The Interactive Mural by artists Klo Wi and Zurdie, from the all-female street art collective Minaw. Darndale Park will host music and dance performances, games, art workshops, face painting and magic shows followed by an aerial dance performance on the roof of the Village Centre. At 3pm, the first ever Darndale Dog Show will take place with prizes on offer for the area's finest pooches.

A celebration of Ireland’s Traveller Community will take place on Sunday as the Festival Village: Traveller Arts & Culture will host craft workshops, storytelling and performances.

Finishing off the weekend, the Dare to be Darndale Carnival Cabaret, led by Ringmaster John Connors, will feature a range of acts including Darndale Boxing Club, aerial acrobatics, circus performers and special guests; comedian Willie White, Prima Ballerina Emer Lenihan, musician Mark Flynn and Richie The Cowboy Smith.

Tickets are available here or at the Made in Darndale Festival Box Office, which is located at the Village Centre Reception and opens June 11th from 10am until 6pm daily.

Tickets are free for all events although it is recommended to pre-book tickets for The Dare to Be Darndale Carnival Cabaret on Sunday as there is limited capacity in the Big Top for the two shows.

Made in Darndale 2022 Timetable of Events

Thursday 16 June
12.00 Darndale Street Parade
Starts at Our Lady Immaculate School and circles the area around the Spine site and Village Centre
13.00 Pop up Circus Performance
Bell Square

Friday 17 June
12.00-16.00 Made in Darndale Arts Exhibition Opening
Village Centre
14.00 -15.00 Darndale History Walkabout with Pat Liddy
Meet at Village Centre Square
16.30-18.00 Darndale Through the Years - History and Storytelling
Village Centre

Saturday 18 June
11.00-14.00 Festival Village
Darndale Park
Family fun with dance, music performances, art workshops and much more
11.00-16.00 Interactive Mural with Klo Wi and Zurdie from Minaw
Spine Site
12.00-16.00 Made in Darndale Arts Exhibition
Village Centre
15.00-16:30 The Darndale Dog Show
Darndale Park

Sunday 19 June
11.00-16.00 Interactive Mural with Klo Wi and Zurdie from Minaw
Spine Site
11.00-14.00 Festival Village: Traveller Arts & Culture
Darndale Park
Traveller crafts display, storytelling, history, folklore, and a traditional Traveller caravan museum
12.00-16.00 Made in Darndale Arts Exhibition
Village Centre
15.00-17.00 Dare to be Darndale Carnival Cabaret – Matinee Performance
Darndale Park
19.00-21.00 Dare to be Darndale Carnival Cabaret – Evening Performance
Darndale Park

For more information and times see creativeplacesdarndale.ie