Pix.ie photos from the Street Performance World Championships

It's great when a plan comes together.

A post becomes an idea becomes a conversation becomes reality.

Pix.ie has some amazing shots from lots of people who enjoyed the weekend. I'll be uploading mine at some point.

A big thanks to Marcus for all his help on this.



Met so many fellow bloggers over the weekend too - starting with the launch of the Dublin Streets exhibition (interview to follow), then adventures with Grannymar, then the delightful Raptureponies, the charming Sinéad, the unrecognisable (in the best possible way) Laura (I've got a luverly bunch...), the wonderfully funny Mr Maybury, the give-great-hugs Lottie and her fella, Andrew out walking his dog, friends from the Faux Sty and saw people I may have met at the Blog Awards in the distance.

And with the Firefox 3 Launch Party this week, there'll no doubt be more!

The English Gents win the 2008 SPWC

The English Gents have just been voted and announced winners of the 2008 Street Performance World Championships in Dublin.





An icredible act of strength, acrobatic ability and comedy, the mostly silent act wowed the crowds with their performances.



Winner of the last two years Space Cowboy was second with comedy act Beautiful Stu in third place.

More to follow :)

I'm near the 30 foot long sleeping pig

I'm on my way to Merrion Square for the Street Performance World Championships. We'd love to see you there.

There's a unique opportunity for you - no matter what your photographic expertise - to get some close up shots of Street Performers without having to be at the back of the crowd. Please have a read of this.

Last night at the opening Bravosho at Dublin Castle, I got shots like these:



These guys are the Amani Acrobats and are amazing athletes and performers.







The Bravosho is free and in the grounds of the Chester Beatty Library. Gates open at 6pm, show starts at 8pm - get your free wristband at the Castle from 6pm and come along with family and friends to enjoy the show!



If you need to get in touch with me, I'm on pitch 6 today or on Gmail as long as my phone battery lasts :)

Like some close up shots of Street Performers?

I'm hoping this will tickle the fancy of some of the fabulous photobloggers in the community - like Will, Grannymar, Claire, John, Alexia, Davy, Nathalie, Phil, both Darrens, Rick and the woman who inspired it, Red Mum. I also hope any bloggers who have a camera and fancy the challenge will join in.

I remember reading this post about the frustration of being at the back of the crowds at the St Patrick's Day Festival this year and I got to thinking: what if..? I mean the journalists can do it, why not you?



With the Street Performance World Championships coming up, I've been talking to Conor and Mark, the festival organisers, and they've very kindly agreed to give the photobloggers priority access to the performances and the performers.



Basically this means at each pitch of the two day festival, you'll be allowed to go in front of the crowds and (without bothering the performers and with their permission), take as many unobstructed photos as you want of these world class performers.

There will also be a rest area for the performers that you will have exclusive access to if you want to take any profile portraits.



Finally SPWC have offered ringside seats for the Bravosho on the Friday and Saturday, 13 and 14 June which is on in the garden beside the Chester Beatty Library. All the performers will be on stage and you should get some great shots.

I've been speaking with Marcus from Pix.ie and if you upload the photos to there with the tag spwc they'll all be collected for people to view.

Just a small thank you for brightening up the blogosphere every day! :)

This is open to everyone - those with the huge lensed cameras and those with the wind-up disposables. It's about getting good photos and spreading the word.

Drop me a line at darraghdoyle [at] gmail [dot] com if you'd like more information, or leave a comment if you'd like to go. Places are limited but it might be a great reason for another photomeet! Feel free to blog and let people know :)

All photos taken from spwc.ie

Look Mammy, he's standing on his head! SPWC 2008

Fair play to Conor McCarthy and Mark Duckenfield, two ambitious, enthusiastic guys who are bringing back one of THE BEST free festivals to Dublin this year.



Over three days and two nights from June 13 to 16, Merrion Square will once again be transformed into a huge playground where some of the best Street Performers in the world will do their best to entertain the crowds at the 2008 Street Performance World Championships.

I went last year with a group of friends and it was just brilliant. The performers were amazing and the crowd reaction was fantastic.



From the legend who is Australian Space Cowboy (balancing, juggling, sword swallowing) to performers from Ireland, Russia, Canada, England, Japan, Tanzania, Somalia and the USA this will be a great festival of juggling, acrobatics, comedy, magic, street theatre and balancing that will just defy belief.

Here's Space Cowboy from last year:



But that's not all. No siree bob. There's also face painting, a clay workshop for children, a 30 foot long sleeping pig (!) and an Elvis Simulator dotted around the Square.



One of the best features I think will be the hard of hearing performance area, where sign interpreters from the Centre of Deaf Studies will be helping out all day Saturday and Sunday to make sure that even people who can't hear all the craic can still very much be part of it.



Finally, there'll be two Once In A Lifetime (!) FREE "Bravoshos" on at Dublin Castle with all of the performers on stage doing their acts!

The shows are on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 June in the garden outside the Chester Beatty Library at 6pm for people aged 14+. You should arrive as early as possible to get their wristbands that will allow you entry.

All the performances will be free, though the customary hat will be doing the rounds to allow you to show your appreciation for some of the best performers in the world.

I was lucky enough to be at the volunteer meeting last night and saw these guys in action - the video's on one side and not great quality, but you'll get the idea:



You can check out all the great action on the website: http://www.spwc.ie

Hope to see you there!