Galway 2020 is today issuing an open call for up to 2,020 people from communities across Galway city, county and beyond to be part of Galway’s European Capital of Culture opening ceremony celebrations. Percussionists and chanters are just some of the roles being cast in the seven day-long opening celebrations. All abilities are welcome. If you can clap your hands, stamp your feet or bang a pot and pan together, then you are exactly who is needed.

If you’d like to take part, and aren’t sure what it is you’d like to do, come along to our kick-off event on 30 November from 1pm to 4pm at Lesiureland, Sathill, to find out more about what you could do.

The celebrations will start with a symbolic turf cutting ceremony on St Brigid’s day and fiery festivals will erupt in towns across the county over seven consecutive nights from Sunday 2 of February. Moving ever closer to the city through the first week of Imbolc, with events in Clifden, Spiddal, Tuam, Ballinasloe, Portumna and Athenry, a huge cast drawn from across the community will invade the streets and squares of Galway city on the evening of Saturday 8 of February for the spectacular open-air finale.

Imbolc is the ancient Irish festival marking the passing of winter and beginning of a new year. It will also mark the start of our Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture. The weeklong opening ceremony is being produced by Wonder Works, whose talented team has worked on Olympic opening ceremonies in Athens, London and PyeongChang amongst other world-class events.

This opening event will be like no other and will draw on local themes and traditions from across the county. Participation is open to anyone over the age of 18 and organisers are calling on families, friends, neighbours, teammates and community groups to sign up to take their place in what will be a week to remember marking the beginning of an extraordinary year.

Rehearsals will take place in advance of the opening ceremony and the volunteer performers will be working with world-class creative talent. Everyone taking part in one of the towns across Galway will also perform in the final element of the opening ceremony, a breath-taking open-air event in the city.

See link below for further details.