On The Town: The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, had to battle with pirate puppets from the west coast of Ireland before launching the annual FizzFest Arts Festival for Young People at the Helix in Dublin City University this week.
After a colourful encounter with the Fíbín Puppets from Galway and breakfast with students from gaelscoil Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch, the Taoiseach commended the Helix for carving out a niche for young people in the cultural life of the capital.
Recalling trips to the Gaiety panto in his childhood, Ahern said early cultural experience "lives with you forever".
He was delighted that FizzFest, an "exciting and enjoyable way" to explore culture, was taking place in his "favourite neighbourhood". It was easy to forget the role local theatres play in communities, he added.
Guests were then treated to a swashbuckling performance of Fíbín's latest show, Pirates and the Golden Key.
The president of DCU, Prof Ferdinand Von Prondzynski, said it was important that young people of all ages were on the DCU campus as often as possible, to give them a sense of ownership.
Avril Carr and Bernadette Larkin, from the Ark children's cultural centre, were enjoying the fun. They were also looking forward to German company Theatre Handgemenge's production of Lords of the Railway, which runs at the Ark from October 14th to 17th.
Also present were Seosamh Mac Donncha and Deirdre Davitt of Foras na Gaeilge. It was important, said Mac Donncha, that children get to experience the performing arts in Irish and to see the language as part of their environment.
FizzFest Arts Festival For Young People runs until Sun, Oct 30