JIMMY Deenihan hopes to develop his trapeze skills in one of the workshops at the 2011 Tralee Circus Festival in association Siamsa Tire next week from 18-20 November.

Speaking at the official launch of the festival at Siamsa Tire, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaelteacht Affairs, said that for any town to host a festival at this time of year is very important to the local economy.

“The fact that Tralee Circus Festival has managed to increase its financial support from the Arts Council is a big endorsement of the event. There are not too many festivals supported by the Arts Council with only one-third of all applications receiving funding. Another very positive aspect of this festival is the emphasis on workshops and skill development. I was always a good trapeze artist and I hope to improve my skills in this area at the festival!”

Tralee Circus Festival in association with Siamsa Tire is Ireland’s only annual contemporary Circus Festival attracting clowns, jugglers, acrobats, trapeze artistes & families to Tralee every November since 2000.

Con Horgan, the Artistic Director of the Festival said: “The Arts Council has described the Circus Festival as being of particular strategic importance to the sector and to underline this, our funding was doubled in 2011. We were delighted that the Minister could officially launch the festival and it’s indicative of the festival’s progress. This support along with that from Siamsa Tire, the Brandon Hotel, Kerry County Council, Tralee Town Council and Holiday Tralee have allowed us to present an exciting and entertaining Festival for the participants and audience alike.”

Many local public representatives including Labour TD Arthur John Spring and the Mayor of Tralee Cllr Grace O’Donnell attended last night’s festival launch at Siamsa Tire Theatre.

They heard about the packed-programme of events that will get underway on Friday 18^th November with a parade from the Circus Convention space in the Brandon Hotel to Siamsa Tire Theatre. There will be contemporary circus style performances both inside and outside the theatre featuring LUXe spectacle performance group, inflatable structures and lots more.

One of the highlights from the opening night will take place after the parade, with the staging of Tumble Circus: “This is what we do for a living”. It is a funny and flexible show full of comic timing and even better gymnastic timing with slapstick acrobatics, hazardous aerial tricks and flying hula hoops to a great soundtrack. The Festival Club, in the residents’ bar of the Brandon Hotel, will offer the grown-ups a chance to let their wigs down after the show, designed by Siamsa Tire’s artiste-in-residence, Sandra Minchin and featuring variety performers, music and a few surprises.

On Saturday, Circus Siamsa will return with a truly unique family entertainment show with two matinees on Saturday 19^th November full of slapstick antics involving the most exciting and talented performers from all over the world handpicked by The Fanzini Brothers.

There will be a host of Kids Circus Workshops on Saturday 19^th and Sunday 20^th in the Brandon Hotel and Conference Centre.

Tickets for Tumble Circus are €16/€13.  Tickets for Circus Siamsa are €12 or €30 for a family of three, €40 for a family of four and admission to the Festival Club is only €5.

Tickets for all events are available from Siamsa Tire Theatre Box Office +353-66-7123055. A special accommodation rate of €35pps is also available at the Brandon Hotel when visitors mention the Circus Festival when booking for the event.

Tralee Circus Festival in association with Siamsa Tire will take place from 18^th to 20^th November and it is proudly supported by The Arts Council, Holiday Tralee, Brandon Hotel, Kerry County Council and Tralee Town Council.

Full details available from www.traleecircusfestival.com or find us on Facebook.

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