Freaks and geeks to hit Cork street fest

SUMMER festivals have a reputation for attracting the more unusual characters, but this is taking things to the extreme.

For the next two weekends, an army of piano jugglers, contortionists, 8’2” robots, the world’s strongest woman, and a man whose job involves climbing head-first into a giant balloon will descend on the unsuspecting Irish public as part of the AIB Street Performance World Championships.

The free event – which pits some of the best international street performers with, frankly, some of the worst – will start in Cork city’s Fitzgerald Park this weekend before continuing in Dublin’s Merrion Square from June 18 to 21.