Noeline Kavanagh, the Artistic Director of Macnas, introduces the star of their latest outdoor spectacular, a friendly giant by the name of Con Mór, coming to Galway this Bank Holiday weekend...
We are very excited for everyone to meet Con Mór, The Giant. He celebrates the Macnas tradition of conjuring giants into being and awakening our collective imaginations... who can ever forget Gulliver on the beach? After the strange time we've all had over the last few years, at home and globally, this year we wanted to reconnect by bringing people to visit our site to see the 7m tall Con Mór.
Con Mór, The Giant represents tribe and belonging, and this year's event unites where pagan rave meets Macnas pilgrimage, across 48 hours in Galway. The project involves schools across the city and county preparing for his arrival and the weekend will also have pop up performances from the Macnas Drummers, Macnas Brass, Macnas Youth Theatre and the Macnas Stilt Ensemble.
Con Mór is a true seeker, who has re-emerged in Macnas… His ancestors are the Tuatha Dé Dannan, who landed in the west of Ireland as clouds of mist. Con Mór has been sleeping for centuries underneath the grounds of the Macnas Workshop - and now the Leviathan has been woken...
Macnas have asked the help of Professor Marjorie Morrigan, an expert in Giants & Where They Come From, to help us understand more about Con Mór. The Professor's research told us that Con loves nature and birds, in fact he was known as The Bird King by the Tuatha Dé Dannan. Marjorie and Macnas are calling on all the kids (and grown ups) across Ireland to help Con Mór fly. We’re asking everyone to find or make a feather and bring it – along with a wish for the future - to Con over the Bank Holiday weekend.
All the feathers could give him the wings that he needs so he can eventually fly around Ireland. Prof. Marjorie Morrigan has been very clear that " it takes more than one feather to make a giant fly, but if everyone around the country sends a feather with a wish, we might just do it!"
Con Mór, The Giant was created with the help of an extraordinary creative team, including designers Paul McDonnell and Dave Young, lighting and special effects designer Richard Babington, sound designer Mathew Berrill and costume designer Cherie White, Éimhín Cradock and his drummers, as well as Rynn’s Engineering Limited in Galway.
Con Mór, The Giant will be open to visitors to see from 12 noon - 8pm on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th October at Fisheries Field, Galway. And for fans of the signature Macnas parade, it will return to the streets of Galway and Dublin next year 2023 with bells and whistles!
Find out more about Macnas and Con Mór, The Giant here.
