This oral history collection came about as a result of a partnership between the Irish Street Arts, Circus & Spectacle Network (ISACS), Irish Showman’s Guild, University of Galway Library, and Archives Ireland, supported through the Heritage Council of Ireland.
It sets out to capture the memories, the history and the legacy of show families of Ireland. The Show Community incorporates variety, travelling cinema, fit-ups, funfairs, travelling circus, theatrical productions & more. Recognised through the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, they form a crucial part of our culture and identity. The value that the state has bestowed upon protecting the legacy of this community is therefore paramount and this collection assists the state to deliver on that objective. Here are some of the voices of that community including:
- Ninety-four-year-old Harry McFadden, whose story spans across variety acts to travelling cinema right up to today’s McFadden’s Funfairs.
- Eddie Fossett and David Duffy describing some of the tales of life on the road as two distinctly different traditional travelling circus.
- Marion Daniels King, Mona Courtney and Queenie McCormick all between 70 and 90 years old whose families led the way in variety, farce and travelling drama.
- Finally, it captures Ronnie Lyons, Joe & Thomas Cullen as well as Sharon & Marie Piper’s voices as long-standing members of the travelling fair.
For more information about the project, see Towards an Irish Showmen’s Archive Report