THE 25TH Baboró International Arts Festival for Children is taking place from Monday October 4 to Sunday 17. Children are at the heart of everything that Baboró does, and this year young people are co-creators of many of the events, lending their talents, opinions and thoughts.
Three young people - Aoibhín Flynn, Seamus O’Maille, and Aoibhinn Ruane tell the Galway Advertiser how they are involved, and what the festival means to them.
Aoibhín Flynn
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Photo:- Andrew Downes
“I was very excited to be asked to take part in this year’s Baboró, a special one as they are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the festival. I will feature in a celebratory performance called ‘Flying the Flag’. The theme of the performance is Freedom, which is a very good one after a year and a half of lockdowns and restrictions and not much freedom.
“I really missed performing as I used to go to drama and hip-hop classes but then they all stopped due to Covid-19. I was thrilled when Judith (Higgins ) and Miquel (Barceló ) asked if I would like to be in the performance. We got to do the filming on the beach which was great fun. As the performance has no spoken words I had to learn other ways to express myself, using body movements, and different facial expressions. I realised you have to put a lot of effort in to make a performance work and I got to work with a film crew for the first time. It was very exciting!”
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Aobhlín Flynn (age nine ) and Mícheál Barceló (age 12 ), with Baboró executive artistic director, Aislinn Ó hEocha, flying the flag for Baboró at 25. Photo:- Andrew Downes
“For the last section of the performance the film crew used a drone as we needed an aerial view of the scene. I can’t wait to see the finished production. It will be really cool. Orla did a great job designing and making my beautiful silk wings for the performance. I would love to wear them every day as they are so bright and colourful.
“I am really looking forward to the Baboró festival this year. It will be great to get to see some live shows again with my family and friends. I really love seeing live music and dance and performances in real life. Of course, I am looking forward to seeing ‘Flying the Flag’ most of all!”
Seamus O’Maille
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“Last summer, at our school summer camp, an artist from Baboró came and asked us to think about what the world would be like if there was no art. She asked us to think about how we would feel if people took away our right to make art. She gave us a huge sheet of paper and we had to draw something with this in our minds. I love drawing comic characters so I drew some of these. It was great fun and there were loads of younger children scribbling all over the sheet.
“I am really looking forward to seeing the Our City Walls street art project, which is going to show some of our ideas and drawings from that week. I am also looking forward to the TADA! exhibition which is about animals, it sounds funny and interesting and it is going to be interactive so I would love to be involved in that.
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Moisés Mas García and Miquel Barceló in Branar Téatar do Pháistí's Rothar, which will be performed at this year's Baboró.
“Every year our school has taken the class to a play or show by Baboró. I have always enjoyed walking over the canal to the Town Hall or wherever during school time. I do not think children in other parts of the country are as lucky to see these shows that we get to see in Galway.
“My favourite Baboró memory so far though is when we were in lockdown and we watched The University of Wonder and Imagination at home, and it was fantastic. It was interactive and magical and it was like actually being there. It was definitely the best Zoom ever for me during this time.
“I love that Baboró is all about just art. I feel that it is always a positive and happy thing to do or see. I also love that it is Irish, and that it is for everybody, especially though for children.”
Aoibhinn Ruane
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“I will be contributing to this year’s festival by being part of the Baboró Young Critics Panel, which is made up of children. We have Zoom calls with Jojo Hynes of the Baboró committee to discuss different things about the festival. I will also be watching some events online and will be attending some live events with the rest of the panel. We will have a meeting afterwards to discuss what we have seen and give feedback to the Baboró committee.
“I’ve found this experience exciting and very interesting. I think it is good the way Baboró has tried to get children’s voices and opinions heard. It was nice hearing other children's ideas too on the Zoom calls. It is interesting to see the way different people and artists are involved in planning the festival.
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An illustration by Niamh Sharkey, which will appear in the Viewpoints exhibition at Baboró.
“One of my favourite Baboró memories is of a music performance in The Mall Theatre in Tuam which I went to with my school. We saw two Irish musicians who were living in New York. They played different styles of music on different instruments. I liked it because it was a different type of Irish music but sounded familiar at the same time.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing all the shows and exhibitions. I have been part of the advisory panel with Maisie Lee and other children since before the summer when they were planning the festival, as well as being part of the Young Critics Panel. It will be nice to see how all the work behind the scenes comes together for the festival.
"Also, our school is part of the creative school’s programme and last year some of my friends and I recorded our experiences of lockdown with Maisie Lee for her documentary, Don’t Forget to Wash Your Hands. That is also part of the festival so I’m looking forward to listening to that.
For more information on the festival see www.baboro.ie
