Late surge of public support sees Macnas make target

A late surge in public support over the weekend saw city arts group Macnas reach the magical €10,000 figure required through a crowdfunding website to ensure there will be a parade on the streets of the city over the October Bank Holiday.

Macnas used fundit.ie for the first time to make up the shortfall required to stage a Halloween street parade and were thrilled by the surge in late support which saw them hit the €10,000 target just hours before Sunday’s deadline.

If they had not reached the target by Sunday night, the project would not have received funding and all of the money pledged would have been returned.

The successful campaign now ensures that Macnas can forge ahead with plans for a major street parade, featuring 300 volunteer performers, on the afternoon of Sunday, October 27 (4.45pm).

“We are absolutely thrilled by the support we got to hit our target,” said the Macnas General Manager, Sharon O’Grady, yesterday. “We had received some sponsorship, but we still had a shortfall of €10,000 to make up. We needed to know that we had the support of the people on board.

“A lot of people felt the loss of the parade when we didn’t stage one in July and we were determined that we were going to do it. But it took a lot of effort, and a lot of support from people, to get it over the line.”

Ms O’Grady said Macnas staff were “heartened” by the amount of people who pledged money towards the project in the last few days.

Funders received gifts from Macnas, depending on how much they donated, but the biggest gift of all will be a massive street parade to match those the company has put on during Galway Arts Festivals in the past.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.