A new cleaner has been causing waves in primary schools across Galway and surrounding counties as he transforms into an 18th century Irish highwayman and many other characters in a unique show that combines clowning, music and acting. Its creator and performer Miquel Barceló tells JUDY MURPHY how it evolved.

When Miquel Barceló first read about Captain George McNamara some years ago in a book about Irish highwaymen, he knew he wanted to bring this 18th century character to life.

Born on the Spanish island of Mallorca and living in Galway for two decades, Miquel is well known as a performer, writer and producer, working as a solo artist and with companies such as Branar and Macnas. For many years, he was part of the clowning duo, the Gombeens, with Jonathan Gunning.

Miquel works with and for children, with people who have intellectual disabilities, older people and groups in care or hospital settings.

When he read about Captain McNamara, who was born in 1690 in County Clare and lived in Cong during the time of the Penal Laws, Miquel was intrigued. Under those laws, passed by the British government to keep Irish people under the cosh, the Catholic McNamara could only rent land and couldn’t become a landowner.

Known locally ‘The Robin Hood of Cong’, McNamara sided with  small tenant farmers who were also penalised under these laws. He took goods from landlords whom he regarded as greedy and redistributed them to people living in poverty.

“Everybody knows about Robin Hood, but not many people know about Irish highwaymen like Captain O’Callaghan,” says Miquel.

His current show, Ballad of a Bandit, which he’s touring in conjunction with Branar Theatre, is helping to change that. Miquel is bringing history to life performing this story in primary schools across Connacht and Clare.

“Underneath all the kings and all the wars, the stories of normal people and everyday life are what interest me. The little stories that tell us about the story of life,” says this vibrant, animated actor. He quotes Uruguayan journalist Eduardo Galeanol: “Many little people in many little places, doing many little things, can change the world.”

When Miquel enters a classroom initially, pupils have no idea what’s going on.

That’s because he keeps the storyline a secret until he’s in front of them. And even as he begins his performance, it can take a while.

“I appear as the janitor,” explains Miquel, who knew he didn’t want to tell McNamara’s story in a conventional way.

“It deserved a different format,” he says simply.

Miquel has a history of working with Branar Theatre, which specialises in productions for children, usually Irish or bilingual shows, with visuals and music intrinsic to these.

Branar helped him to bring Ballad of a Bandit to life, successfully applying to local councils and to the Arts Council for funding to tour it.

Money was important because this ‘guerilla theatre’ was “totally different” to a normal show and would have no advance publicity.

“I wanted no advertising, no interviews, no promotion, but to build this show at a community level. We sent the idea to schools and the schools bought in.”

Miquel’s tour began in Spring, breaking for Summer and returning in September. It’s brought him all over the west, to schools in Galway, Clare, Mayo and Roscommon, performing for classes from second to sixth, managing to keep the element of surprise all the way. In Galway alone, he visited 25 schools, giving 40 performances to more than 1,200 pupils.

Pictured: Performer, theatre-maker and musician, Miquel Barceló, pictured at Branar’s HQ in Galway City. PHOTO JOE O’SHAUGHNESSY.