Programme that brings the circus to halting sites 'giving children the space to be themselves'
Billy Sweeney (fron) practises his moves with (back, left to right) Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre’s creative director, Chantal McCormick and children Ellen Cleary and Annie Sweeney. Photo: Ray Ryan
Having the chance to run away with the circus without having to leave their halting sites was a dream that many Traveller children never imagined was possible.
However, kids across Galway and Tipperary from the ages of eight to 14 are now seeing these locations transformed into training grounds for young acrobats.
It’s all part of a new community engagement programme called Sorcán and Circus which was developed by Traveller musician and screenwriter Willzee (William Casey), in conjunction with the Irish Aerial Creation Centre.
The programme features Traveller voices with a focus on creativity, and cultural expression. Travellers in the creative sector are also catered for through mentorship and paid artistic opportunities.
Young performers recently acquired aerial skills which will culminate in their appearance in a circus theatre production called by Fidget Feet and Tobi Omoteso.
Branded Ireland’s first aerial “Hip H’Opera,” the show explores what elevates and suppresses us as humans, focusing on gender expectations and identity, among other themes.
Willzee joined forces with Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre’s creative director, Chantal McCormick, to bring aerial workshops to halting sites in Galway and Tipperary. He spoke about the benefits of the programme.
“The kids are in awe which is beautiful because this is something that I’ve always dreamed about," he said.
"It’s great to see this unfolding because if you look at the statistics and all of the stuff that is going on in society as a whole for young members of the Traveling community, having them just be able to fly in the sky and be so free in that moment is really something, That’s life in itself right there.”
He explained that issues impacting Travellers can often make it difficult for children in the community to thrive.
“It’s all about taking them away from an environment that is unfortunately overcast with mental health problems, accommodation problems and educational problems," he said.
"The list of issues that still exist within the Travelling community in 2026 baffle me, considering the amount of money that is allocated by the State and not drawn down by the county councils.
"There are so many things that would benefit young Travellers which unfortunately they don't get the resources for. This grant is at least one drop in the ocean for the children who need it.”
The process has been very rewarding for the rapper.
“It’s just so powerful to see how young children are developing," he told the .
"You can really see the love and consideration that the children in the group all have for one another. It is noted, the high levels of autism and learning difficulties that exist within the community.
"Seeing how the older children look out for the younger kids who might have disabilities or be vulnerable, is really beautiful.
"The sense of understanding and the acceptance of being different, but still being the same, exists in all children.
"It’s a harrowing thing to watch young people like that grow into darker, colder people because that was the only outlet they had," he added.
"It’s why providing creative courses like this is so important. You are basically giving children the space in society to be themselves and understand that they are good as anybody else."
Willzee explained that his mother and father died when he was a very young boy and he said he expressed his emotions in a very different way before he found creativity.
"I find that creativity has been more of a benefit to me than anything else and has helped me really grow and understand myself," he said.
"It’s great to see the ariel skills being taught in halting sites but to me this is just like the surface level entry to the work that we’re doing as well.”
The challenge was one the team were ready to embrace.
“Halting sites are very confined spaces. Although they might look large from the outside they can be very restrictive," Willzee said.
"I wanted to help young children in these areas see that there’s creativity no matter where you are.
"I think one of the biggest challenges was realising the discrepancies between different halting sites.
"It’s difficult to understand how the county councils in one area support Travellers and help improve their living conditions while others are not even close to that level."
He said he believes one of the most difficult parts for him was trying to remember that he is not there to challenge the system.
"All I can do is act as a facilitator for the children," he said.
"Unfortunately, as bad as it is for the Travelling community as a whole, It's fair to say that some groups are better off than others.”
Chantal McCormick spoke about the logistics that came with the project.
“I didn’t think it would initially be possible to bring aerial into halting sites but Willzee really liked the idea of the aerial," she said.
"Many of the children have this real wildness about them, but that's not a negative thing.
"It's just that this wildness is so often squished out of children in so many ways. There was something about their wildness that I loved and I didn’t want to squash that.
"At the same time I wanted to introduce practicalities to keep everyone safe. We have this thing that we call the Sauropod, which is on four wheels.
"There were 70 children who turned up to do the aerial in Galway. I couldn’t harness them all during that time but God did I try.
"Of course I couldn’t get to them all but my hope was to give as many children as possible that sensation of being in the air that performing aerial gives you.
"From the moment they have a go you can see the sense of freedom on their faces.”
by Fidget Feet and Tobi Omoteso will take place at the Black Box Theatre in Galway as part of the Misleór Festival of Nomadic Cultures on Thursday, September, 24.
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