Macnas At School

Macnas invites schools and children to be a part of our 40th anniversary parade, Fiáin!

Macnas has commissioned a new story for children called Beastly, written by Nithy Kasa and illustrated by Erin Darcy. The story is part of this year’s Macnas parade. The story is part of this year’s Macnas parade, directed by James Riordan with lead designer Cherie White.

This year’s parade celebrates the wild, marking 40 years of Macnas. Inspired by the wild elements of the West of Ireland and the folklore and imagination that have shaped our work for four decades, it is a joyful invitation to embrace the beastly side of life.

The story follows Boy, a very proper young man who stumbles upon a moonlit Jamboree in the land of imaginations. Among grumpy giants, muddy werewolves, fiery dancers and messy eaters, he finds everyone too “beastly” to befriend and sets out to make them proper like him. When his efforts fail, a little make-up and a lot of mischief show him that friends don’t need to look or act like you to have fun, and together they dance beastly in the moonlight.

Click here to download the story. 

Once you’ve read the story, it’s your turn to join the fun. Fiáin, the 2026 Macnas parade, takes place on Sunday 25 October at 5:30pm in Galway City, and Monday, 26 October at 7pm in Dublin as part of Dublin City Council Bram Stoker Festival, and you are invited!

Paint your face with make-up like Boy, make a mask to disguise yourself like the creatures, or come whichever way you like. To help you get started, the beastly masks below can be printed, cut out and decorated at home or at school.

Bring your mask along, get a little beastly and run wild with us as we take over the streets. We can’t wait to see you there!

Click here to download printable mask 1.

Click here to download printable mask 2. 

Macnas is an award-winning internationally acclaimed spectacle company from Galway.

Master storytellers, Macnas bring the magic of imagination to life through creating and delivering incredible spectacle shows. This program is designed to invite pupils into the world of Macnas and is led by highly skilled visual and performance artists.

Through or Digital Schools Programme, Macnas provides free access to schools and families to connect directly with our large spectacle shows. Click here to see our free digital resources page for activities in and out of school. 

For more information, contact admin@macnas.com.
 

Our Objectives

• Explore Imagination through visual storytelling, making, performance and play.
• Instill confidence in creative expression.
• Promote connection, wellbeing and belonging.
• Encourage creative play, collaboration and creative listening.
• Develop children’s capacity to learn through creative problem solving.
• Celebrate each child’s unique creativity.
• Provide an unforgettable experience.

To empower children by engaging their active imagination.

Macnas provide dynamic and accessible tools that encourage children to problem solve, promote creative play and create meaningful connections.