Make ’em laugh, make ’em cry! The international clown festival is coming to Downpatrick for a madcap few days!
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is excited to be bringing the inaugural International Clown Festival to Downpatrick from Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 September.
The event has been held in different locations all over Europe in recent years but this is the first time it has come to Ireland and it is an honour that the clown fraternity have chosen St Patrick’s Country and Downpatrick for 2015.
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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council welcome Silly Tilly from Strangford and Klovnen Njetski from Denmark along with kids Conan Fitzsimons and Sophie Ford in preparation for the International Clown Festival.[/caption]
The Clowns will arrive in Ireland on Wednesday 23 September and will be participating in a netball match with winners of the primary school competition who designed their own t-shirts for the exciting clowning about match. The streets in Downpatrick will hear the patter of huge feet as over 40 clowns come to town for the parade… some coming all the way from America and New Zealand.
Toto the Clown from Connecticut in America has vast clown experience, and has trained at the world famous Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Clown College and worked for several years with their Red Unit clowns.
Bluey who comes from New Zealand made his clown debut at the Royal Albert Hall in London. He has won the prestigious Taffy Memorial Award for best slapstick Act and the Barbara Miller Award for Best Qualities of Precision, Attack and Timing. All the way from Norway, Ian “Gingernut” Thom will be performing fantastic puppeteers show for the children. As well as clowns from other continents, local clown talent Silly Tilly from Strangford who has been a strong force in bringing this incredible festival here will have children laughing out loud with her popular show.
From Thursday 24 September children can come down to St Patrick Square in Downpatrick and enjoy the clowning in shows from 4pm. Fun with the Clowns is not just for the kids, so why not attend the Down Arts Centre on Thursday and enjoy the hilarious Clown Noir performance, which tells the story of a Clown’s journey.
Also, on Friday 25 as a warm up to the fantastic weekend ahead children can enjoy street entertainment from 3.30pm.
Down Arts Centre will also be clowning about on Friday night as they are hosting a Clown gala show with over 10 different acts that all the family will be sure to enjoy. The show will cater for all ages, consisting of approximately 10 acts and lasts for approximately two hours. For further information on the Clown Noir performance and the Gala show please contact Down Arts Centre on 028 4461 0747.
The main events will be held in St Patrick Square from 12noon to 5pm on Saturday 26 September with mini circus rings in English Street and Scotch Street and on Sunday 27 from 1pm when the Clowns will parade down Market Street from Down Arts Centre to St Patrick Square. Bring along a picnic and dine with the clowns and be sure to be in stitches as they entertain while you munch through your lunch.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Naomi Bailie commented, “It will be a very exciting few days in Downpatrick and I am delighted to welcome international clowns to the town. There will be something for everyone over the course of the festival from gala shows to jugglers, magicians, puppeteers, balloon modellers and much more.
“Everyone enjoys clowning about and this event will be a great opportunity for adults and kids to get into the spirit and ensure they juggle their time to attend this amazing international festival. I would encourage businesses to get behind this spectacular new event and decorate their windows with the clown theme.”
For further information or a FREE copy of the Festival Flyer please contact Downpatrick Visitor Information Centre on 028 4461 2233 or full event listings online at:
www.newrymournedown.org or www.facebook.com/DownFestivals]]>
