`We've almost become respectable. We wouldn't look out of place at any reception now," commented Saw Doctors manager and former Galway Arts Festival director, Ollie Jennings. He was talking about members of Galway's arts community, gathered in the Kenny Art Gallery this week for a Macnas launch with a difference - this time the community theatre company is producing a book.
Cargo de Nuit, the Making of a Macnas Parade, recounts in diary format the process of creating last year's night time parade for Galway Arts Festival. Lavishly illustrated and costing £7.95, it's aimed at audiences and those interested in creating similar productions, according to Macnas's Gary McMahon.
Ollie Jennings's musings on the increasing respectability of Galway's arts community were disrupted by an invasion of drumming pirates, who entertained guests briefly and noisily, before handing over to Arts Council member and Clifden Arts Festival's driving force, Brendan Flynn, who launched the book.
Praising the imagination of Macnas founders, Ollie Jennings, Paraic Breathnach, Tom Conroy and Pete Sammon, he stressed how much enjoyment Macnas had created since the group's beginnings in 1984.
Galway Arts Festival was represented in strength with another former artistic director, Patricia Forde - now script editor with the popular TG4 soap, Ros na Run - the current incumbent Rose Par- kinson, and festival manager Fergal McGrath. Patricia, accompanied by son James, had flown back from Dublin to attend, as had her Ros na Run colleague Maire Ni Thuthail, a busy woman. In addition to being director of Eo Teilifis - which co-produces the soap - Maire is also on the boards of the IRTC and Macnas.
Actor and writer Little John Nee, whose show, The Derry Boat, directed by Paraic Breathnach, was recently a hit in Washington, took a break from preparing his new show, which will premiere during this year's festival.
Meanwhile, Macnas fans were determined to have the new book signed by founding members. Several approached Carlow optician Bernard Jennings in a clear case of mistaken identity. Bernard, who bears an uncanny resemblance to his brother Ollie, was in Galway returning Macnas costumes which he had borrowed for Carlow's St Patrick's Day parade. He also carried out eye tests for Macnas employees, before attending the reception where he happily signed the books, under his own name.
"He'll be signing Saw Doctors' albums next," commented Fergal McGrath.