Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

These giant, creepy puppets will be terrorising the streets of Limerick this summer

The press release claims they’re friendly. We still need convincing.

[Royal De Luxe]

IT’S NOT JUST us, is it?

These giant marionette’s look a tiny bit creepy don’t they?

Impressive, sure. But definitely, definitely pretty creepy.

If you suffer even slightly from automatonophobia (yes, it’s a word) you may want to avoid Limerick city between the 5th and 7th of September.

The creations above (or ones like them) will be hitting the streets as part of the ongoing City of Culture celebrations.

French theatre company Royal De Luxe will be unleashing them as part of its ‘Giant Saga’ — an “original tale, developed and specially scripted for the city” over the three days.

Limerick City of Culture 2014 / YouTube

They’ve performed similar feats all over the world.

According to a press release:

Big friendly Giants brimming with humanity, vulnerability and vivacity, tell a specific story tailored for each territory. They travel the world, from Nantes (France) their home town, to Guadalajara (Mexico), London and Liverpool (United-Kingdom), Barcelona (Spain)… and ignite enthusiasm and emotion everywhere they go.

Friendly?

Alright so.

Apparently they’ve been seen by some 18 million people worldwide.

According to the theatre company’s founder, Jean-Luc Courcoult:

Royal de Luxe are truly delighted that Ireland is one of the chosen stages for this year’s performances. The Giant and storyline that you will experience this September were created using Ireland, and more specifically Limerick, as the inspiration. It will be a very special time when we land on your green isle with our Giant and Lilliputians to perform what may be the biggest street performance Ireland will ever
see.

[Royal De Luxe]

[Royal De Luxe]

[Royal De Luxe]

Read: Appeal for information after three ducks stolen from nursing home

Read: Three Irish lads Riverdance their way around the world

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
13 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pol Mlp
    Favourite Pol Mlp
    Report
    Nov 14th 2021, 12:08 AM

    Pandemic and hse cyber attack….2 great excuses that will be used for many years going forward

    416
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pol Mlp
    Favourite Pol Mlp
    Report
    Nov 14th 2021, 12:20 AM

    @K C: in a children’s hospital??

    92
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute fintan doyle
    Favourite fintan doyle
    Report
    Nov 14th 2021, 6:54 AM

    @Pol Mlp: staff

    11
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute K C
    Favourite K C
    Report
    Nov 14th 2021, 1:26 PM

    @Pol Mlp: exactly. Staff can carry Covid19 and pass it onto the children.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joseph Duggan
    Favourite Joseph Duggan
    Report
    Nov 14th 2021, 2:00 AM

    History of the health system has not improved much only the outlay plenty of office personal managers middle managers etc no shortage of them shortage medical stataff @beds deny it ff fg labour

    136
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andy O'B
    Favourite Andy O'B
    Report
    Nov 14th 2021, 6:27 AM

    @Joseph Duggan: what are you telling about Joseph?

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andy O'B
    Favourite Andy O'B
    Report
    Nov 14th 2021, 6:27 AM

    @Joseph Duggan: what are you talking about Joseph?

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian O'Grady
    Favourite Brian O'Grady
    Report
    Nov 14th 2021, 12:17 AM

    So 40% have colds, no mention of them having covid 19

    89
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mac Muinteoir
    Favourite Mac Muinteoir
    Report
    Nov 14th 2021, 1:29 AM

    @Brian O’Grady: just don’t.

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sinead Merrigan
    Favourite Sinead Merrigan
    Report
    Nov 14th 2021, 2:21 AM

    @Brian O’Grady: RSV is a very serious but very common virus that lands babies and young children in the ICU on ventilators for several days to a week. The only option is to let it run its course. Not everything is COVID. Normal bugs and viruses that land pediatric patients in hospital and the ICU haven’t gone away

    172
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Phelan
    Favourite Dave Phelan
    Report
    Nov 14th 2021, 6:01 AM

    As I write this I am conscious that there are little children in pain with distraught parents. Government should instantly divert money to allow these children have a childhood.

    93
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor Brady
    Favourite Conor Brady
    Report
    Nov 14th 2021, 8:42 AM

    This ran through my kids, leaving the baby very ill. Out the other side now but I’m in a good position to now make 3 observations:

    1) RSV is climbing unusually high in kids surely as a result of lockdown. Less exposure means less training of the innate immune system, the now proven best response to such things https://www.science.org/content/article/having-sars-cov-2-once-confers-much-greater-immunity-vaccine-vaccination-remains-vital?, rendering our most precious increasingly vulnerable to such diseases. That’s one price we have paid for the wrong policy chosen repeatedly and likely again shortly. On top of all the other public health negatives, it will need to be considered later.

    2) If today’s Covid policy is based purely on hospital beds, and with reasonable discussions on capacity not happening, why aren’t we locking down in response to our children’s hospitals overflowing with this respiratory virus? No, we must let it “run through them”. After all, we now know if we don’t…see 1).

    3) The toddler struggled through without serious treatment but the baby was really hammered with inflammation and eventually brochitis. The doctor recommended various steroids and antibiotics. Thankfully did the trick. He said there was other options too if these didn’t work. However, should my Mum catch a certain respiratory disease, one we now have many proven, safe and effective treatments for (monoclonal antibodies, antivirals, anti-inflammatories, steroids, nutraceuticals etc https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306987721001419), the HSE still advises she gets nothing but pain relief until she needs the hospital where her prognosis is poor.

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Terry Tibbs
    Favourite Terry Tibbs
    Report
    Nov 14th 2021, 6:47 AM

    Why are comments turned off on the Harris article?

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SquintEastwood
    Favourite SquintEastwood
    Report
    Nov 14th 2021, 1:11 AM
    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Jordan
    Favourite David Jordan
    Report
    Nov 14th 2021, 1:31 AM

    @SquintEastwood: Likely a consequence, nearly 2 years of social distancing means that there were fewer viruses going around so children’s (and adult’s) immunity against this and other viruses weakened, so they’re more likely to develop severe symptoms.

    77
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SquintEastwood
    Favourite SquintEastwood
    Report
    Nov 14th 2021, 2:20 AM

    @David Jordan:what will be the spin on this ?
    Blame the milkman

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pauline Gallagher
    Favourite Pauline Gallagher
    Report
    Nov 14th 2021, 3:38 PM

    There was a mother on Joe Duffy about a month ago or so crying about her son who has scoliosis, is in a lot of pain all the time, and there was a recording of his son saying he cried himself to sleep most nights, and he broke down when he was saying it. Hes only about 9 years old. He is still on a waiting list for surgery. I was hoping some rich person would hear the show and put the money up for the child to go private and get the operation done asap. No child should be suffering like this in 21st century Ireland. Its utterly despicable.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Christine Hanway
    Favourite Christine Hanway
    Report
    Nov 15th 2021, 11:43 AM

    @Pauline Gallagher: its equally as upsetting to think all you need is money to rectify.. Imagine thats all thats standing in the way becuase there is never going to be an adequate health service in this country. Money doesn’t talk in Ireland it screams…

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute George J Stephens
    Favourite George J Stephens
    Report
    Nov 14th 2021, 3:48 AM

    500k euros every time. Life saferes

    6
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds