More than 44,000 people are expected to line the streets of the city this Sunday to see Savage Grace, this year's Macnas Halloween Parade, and the public is encouraged to wear fancy dress and enjoy the wild and ghoulish fun of it all.
The parade, the largest free event in the West of Ireland, takes place this Sunday and begins at the Fisheries Field at 5.30pm, after which it will make its way along the Salmon Weir Bridge, Francis Street, Eglinton Street, Shop Street, High Street, Quay Street, and Wolf Tone Bridge, culminating at the top of Fr Griffin Road.
Savage Grace is a restless ballad, a deliriously dark and delicious waltz between love and loss. Hundreds of colourful Macnas volunteer performers will transform and transfix, bringing a birth, a wedding, a funeral, and everything in between, to the city streets. Also watch out for the Macnas Brass Ensemble; Éimhín Cradock and the Cloughanover drummers with Macnas' Street Percussive Ensemble; and the Young Ensemble, led by Miquel Barceló, it features 60 young people from across Galway city, and includes a collaboration with Judith Sibley's Youth Ballet West. There will also be music by My Fellow Sponges.
Savage Grace has been devised and designed by Orla Clogher. The musical director is Orlagh de Bhaildraithe and the costume designer is Cherie White. Macnas' artistic director is Noeline Kavanagh. The parade is in association with the Latin Quarter. Macnas is supported by The Arts Council of Ireland and Galway City Council. See macnas.com
