Macnas

Macnas (Irish for "Joyful Abandonment") is a performance company based at the Fisheries Field in Galway, Ireland. Its public performances are noted by The Saw Doctors for exuberance, colour and spectacle. The company has been influential in changing the nature of public entertainment in Ireland and has spawned many imitators.

Founded in 1986, the company has performed in over 20 countries across the globe. Its parades form the centre-point of Halloween, St. Patrick's Day and Art Festival festivities in Galway city. Massive crowds gather to witness the events, often resulting in overcrowding of the main city streets. It toured alongside U2 as part of the Zooropa tour in 1993 and, with their sister company Macteo, simultaneously rang in the new millennium in three cities: Galway (Eyre Square), Dublin (Merrion Square) and New York City (Times Square).

Macnas offices are spread across two locations in Galway city. Administration mainly takes place in Fisheries Field. Construction takes place at the Fisheries Field workshops which are near NUI Galway and a warehouse in Liosban, where large-scale construction takes place.

Macnas' sister company, Macteo has changed ownership and is now known as Arcana. The Liffey Press and Macnas have published Macnas: joyful abandonment, a 250-page history of the company.

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