The festival takes place 15 – 17 February 2008 and is hosted by University College Cork who is providing the festival with the fantastic state of the art sports complex, Mardyke Arena, for all its main activities.

All major contemporary circus forms are covered through workshops, games and shows, by the large number of both professional performers and emerging artists from across Ireland, as well as from the UK, Germany, France and The Netherlands.

On his return visit to County Cork, John Lee will promote and develop clowning along with his friends and local clowns Marcus Bale & Arran Towers. Compagnie with Balls and local celebrities Amani Acrobats will be giving Ireland the best of acrobatics and acro-balance. Some of the most popular jugglers in Europe including Toby Walker, Stephan Sing, Marco Pauletti and Clonakilty’s big talent Ronan McLoughlin will be balancing, throwing, tossing and spinning all objects imaginable.

On Saturday ‘the circus comes to town’ with two spectacular city centre shows in Cork’s Firkin Crane dance theatre, when the headliners of the festival give a wide audience a taste of their most popular and successful shows.

Beside shows and workshops for the general public, the festival also has an Outreach Programme which invites youth groups from around the city and county to the festival. This year three youth groups from Shandon, Knocknaheeny and Mayfield have been selected and will be treated to a special circus demonstration by some of our performers, as well as an 'introduction to circus' workshop in the Mardyke Arena. Circus Festival Ireland is very committed to the outreach programme and very determined to develop it in years to come.