Bubble blowing event to get kindness festival under way

A bubble-blowing ceremony tomorrow night will kick-start the country’s first kindness festival — an event that could spread nationwide.

Organisers of the Random Acts of Kindness Festival in Clonakilty, West Cork, hope the event, which has as its motto ‘cut the misery — spread the positivity’ will lift the town’s spirits just weeks after the massive flood, and snowball.

They said the ‘pay-it-forward’ style event, which encourages people to perform simple, selfless and random acts of kindness for friends or strangers, has the potential to spread nationwide, if people embrace it.

“The saying goes ‘one good turn deserves another.’ This in a way is the basis for the festival,” said spokesman Ger O’Donovan.

“The festival will create the environment for everyone in the town, both local and visitor, to do small, simple acts of kindness to make someone else smile.

“We believe this positivity and kindness will multiply and spread throughout the locality creating a special atmosphere.”

The concept emerged out of the local Macra’s summer calendar of community-based activities.

“We wanted to do something in the community, for the community,” said fellow organiser Noel Crowley. “Now we’re giving people the opportunity to do something, no matter how small, for the greater good of others.

“They can express their creativity, showcase their goodwill and spread positivity. “The great thing about this festival is that everyone can contribute to a sense of fun and happiness in the town.”

The festival comes just weeks after the town centre was hit by a devastating flood.

It will open with a bubble blowing ceremony, for young and old, at 6.30pm on Connolly St tomorrow.

It continues on Saturday and Sunday with free street performances and music.

Voluntary and sporting groups will be showcased on Saturday, with juggling, history tours and a speakers’ corner on sustainability and volunteerism.

Rugby club members are teaming up with the Tidy Towns group for a cleaning project in St Vincent de Paul houses.

And ‘kindness zones’ will be set up in random places where people will receive free gifts, including vouchers, cinema tickets and yoghurts.

People who receive gifts will be handed an Act of Kindness calling card which commits them to performing an act of kindness for somebody else.

A free family barbecue takes place in the town’s Emmet Square on Sunday.

* More details on Facebook, ClonakiltyRandomActsOfKindnessFestival, and on Twitter @ClonRAOKFest.