Galway is truly a year-round festival city but come October it’s all about the kids. The 22nd Baboró International Arts Festival for Children is just around the corner and kicks off on Monday October 15 and runs for seven days. This year’s programme is bursting with 51 extraordinary events from Ireland and around the world so there’s plenty for children and families to enjoy. We’re kicking off this year’s Baboró Ambassador series with 12-year old Emma Craughwell from Inverin.
Emma has been attending Baboró since she was four years old with her primary school Buaile Beag N.S and also with her family.
One of my favourite Baboró memories is attending The Wolf and Peter because the story was told through dance and I love dancing. I love how Baboró interpret children’s stories, turning them upside down showing us a new way of telling a story.
What I’m looking forward to the most about this year’s Baboró festival is the atmosphere, days out with my family and attending the shows for children over 12, such as Cleite as it is taking place in a thatched cottage. I feel like it will bring us back in time to the olden days!! I’m also attending Black Beauty with my brother and sister in the Town Hall Theatre. My brother Evan is really looking forward to Black Beauty because my mom would always read this book to him as a Baby.
Baboró is important to Galway because a lot of the shows discuss topics of different cultures. I think this is very important to children and young adults as the shows address everyday themes that are universal to children all over the world. Some shows in the festival let us explore how we connect and communicate with one another in different ways. I especially enjoy Baboró shows that capture my attention.
Even though there are no spoken words, you will find at least one of these types of shows in the festival each year but mostly the shows are loud, active and great fun!! Baboró is a great day out with your family and I love going out for food before the shows too. It gives primary schools the opportunity to bring all classes, as Baboró have shows and workshops for all ages, The workshops are great fun, I’m hoping to go to ‘Design your own board game’ this year too.
Baboró offers performances for the general public, families and schools. Full programme details available at http://www.baboro.ie/festival/programme Baboró International Arts Festival for Children runs in various venues throughout Galway from 15 – 21 October.
