The first shark of the evening will not emerge from the water. It will take the form of a huge lantern at Coláiste Acla, on Achill Island. Sculptor Tom Meskell has chosen the basking shark, a visitor to the island’s waters, to open Circus Science by the Sea. Around it, circus and music also make room for a simple question: what brings this great fish close to the Mayo coast?
From 13 to 15 November 2026, Circus250 is spreading its festival across Achill, Mulranny and Westport. On Friday, at Coláiste Acla in Dooega, a family workshop will involve making a shell-shaped lantern from willow and paper. Tom Meskell’s sculpture will then take centre stage at the opening evening. Simon Berrow, from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, will speak about basking sharks. The Pirate Queen Cabaret, inspired by Gráinne Mhaol, will extend the evening in a more acrobatic style.
On Saturday on the island, author Eva Naughton will combine reading and experiments at Achill Sound Library. On Sunday, Ted’s Bar will host a honey tasting and a show about bees, followed by a sampling workshop inviting visitors to observe the small creatures found in streams. These are two ways of approaching nature without remaining a spectator: comparing, handling things, and then asking the questions that arise along the way.
On Saturday in Westport, the free drop-in experiments at the Town Hall Theatre will sit alongside two shows that approach science from different angles. In Juanita’s Big Problem, a clown performance explores plastic waste, with a follow-up session led by a team from Trinity College Dublin. In Splat!, juggling eggs provides a way to talk about the forces at work when something is thrown. The organiser recommends the two shows for children aged six and four upwards respectively.
On Sunday, Mulranny Arts Centre will devote an afternoon to seaweed: a film, cooking demonstrations and creative activities. If you are hesitating between this outing and Ted’s Bar, check the times before booking. The activities partly overlap and take place in two different localities.
The official Circus250 programme gives the address, the recommended age where specified and the access arrangements. Some free activities require booking. For a first outing with children, choose a half-day based around a single location: Friday in Dooega for the lantern, or Sunday on Achill for the activities taking place one after another at the same venue.
Essential information to help you plan your visit, including key landmarks, access information, and booking options.
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