People in and around Athenry are being invited to Take a Walk with Crom, as part of an intimate spectacle from Macnas Community Theatre that’s taking place next Friday, September 22, for Culture Night.

Starting at 9pm, it’s being presented by Galway County Arts Office and Athenry Arts & Heritage Centre.

The magnificent Crom first emerged from Macnas’s 2014 Halloween production, Symphony for the Restless. Since then, this raging, roaring, grieving, staggering, rootless, wild and weary creature has wandered the streets of Galway City, Dublin City and Ballina. For his Athenry visit, Crom will be accompanied by Macnas performers, stilt-walkers and drummers.

Macnas is based in Galway City but in 2020, the group moved its sculpture workshop close to Athenry. Since then, members have been engaging with local schools and getting to know the area.

Artist Lisa Sweeney worked with sixth class students at Scoil Croí Naofa to create nests and feathers that were part of Con Mór, The Giant, in 2023.

In the past, Macnas performed regularly for the  Athenry Medieval Festival. Now, for the first time since the mid-90s, the group is back on the town’s streets.

The spectacle will be preceded by other Culture Night events at Skylark, Athenry Arts & Heritage Centre and a walk around one of Ireland’s best-preserved medieval towns.  Afterwards there will be a  fireworks display in the park, sponsored by Londis.

Pictured: The restless giant, Crom, walking through Galway City. He’ll be in Athenry next Thursday. PHOTO: JULIA DUNIN.