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Streets ahead!

Thursday, 12 June 2008

Now in its third year and surely one of the highlights of the summer the AIB World Street Performance Championships will take place once again in Dublin around Merrion Square on June 13, 14 and 15.
MARK Duckenfield and his business partner Connor McCarthy expect some 80,000 people to attend this year’s AIB World Street Performance Championships.It’s an incredible figure when you realise the event is only in its third year of existence. The first year saw 26,000 attend followed by 40,000 last year. Mark explains why he’s expecting that figure to double this time around.
“The festival is absolutely thriving and with AIB coming on board as official sponsors we have really been able to push the boat out this year,” he says.
But how did the festival come about in the first place?
“We got the idea when we saw a group of acrobats, ‘The Amani Acrobats’ performing in Temple Bar. We watched them for three hours and we couldn’t believe how many people they attracted. We knew we a had found a market for this type of entertainment.”
Mark and Connor now travel to between six and eight major street performance festivals all over the globe in their mission to bring the very best performers to Dublin.
“Edinburgh is where you will find the largest number of street performers in the one place and it’s the place where we found The Space Cowboy, one of the big draws at the Dublin event this year,” says Mark.
Indeed The Space Cowboy is the current Dublin Street Performer Champion and this year he will attempt to break a world record by swallowing 17 swords at one time, but this should be easy as swallowing swords atop a ten foot unicycle while juggling flaming torches is no problem to him!
Mark explains why an event designed to entertain is described as a championship?
“Well there is no monetary prize as such and this was at the performers request. They decided that it would cause bad blood and the champion should be decided by public vote.
“However, the title of champion does carry a lot of weight and The Space Cowboy for example will tell you that since he was crowned champion his popularity and book-ability has soared.”
Has the coming on board of major sponsors AIB made a lot of difference to this year’s festival?
“Without our sponsors the festival wouldn’t be happening, it’s as simple as that and it certainly wouldn’t be for free,” says Mark.
Mark is quick to praise Irish audiences for their reaction to the street performers.
“Irish audiences are incredibly generous to street performers and the performers really appreciate it,” he says.
“It may sound clichéd but it’s the audiences that have really made the Dublin festival. There’s something very special about them.
“And it’s remarkable just how quickly this festival has become established on the international circuit.”
Has Merrion Square proved to be a popular location for the festival?
“Yes, we wouldn’t have it anywhere else. The way the park is divided out lends itself to the various acts and they can express themselves very well in the setting, the trees help as well,” says Mark.
Are here any acts that we should especially keep an eye out for this year?
“Well there’s The Space Cowboy who is absolutely amazing and his attempt at breaking a world record will prove to be very interesting and then there’s The English Gents who defy gravity and who will blow your mind.”

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