Circus Science by the Sea – Europe’s only circus science festival will return for 2025! Join us 14th – 16th November in Achill and Westport County Mayo for three fantastic days of circus, with a scientific twist.
Circus Science by the Sea was produced by Circus250 with support from Research Ireland. Because we believe when science meets circus, anything’s possible.
Events Programme for 2025
FULLY BOOKED!
Desert Bloom – An interactive storytelling and puppetry show for very young children.
Desert Bloom is the story of the lifecycle of a beautiful red flower that lives in the Atacama Desert in Chile, South America. This special plant blooms only once every ten years. What does it need to blossom? Using dance, storytelling and puppetry of the insects from the region, Angelica Santander brings this tale alive.
Bring your little ones along for a charming, relaxed and interactive performance.
Time: 11am
Venue: Westport Library
The Crescent
Westport
F28 HE26
Feel the Buzz on Achill – Hear from the island’s own beekeepers
Join local beekeeper John Butler for a fascinating dive into the world of bees. From hives to honey, John will share his knowledge of these vital pollinators and their role in our ecosystem. He’ll even bring along his beekeeping kit, giving you a chance to see up close the tools and techniques that keep the buzz alive on Achill Island.
Time: 6pm
Venue: The Valley House
The Valley
Achill
F28 D8F7
Admission: Free drop in event, everyone is welcome, no booking required
Festival Opening Night with fire show and lights switch on by Rose of Tralee
Get ready to feel the buzz as circus and science come together for our spectacular opening ceremony!
Special guest Rose of Tralee (and electrician!) Katelyn Cummins will cast a glow over The Valley Courtyard as she turns on the lights and officially launches Circus Science by the Sea Festival 2025. Raise a glass with welcome drinks and enjoy blazing circus magic from our fire performer Maria da Paixao – the perfect way to spark a weekend where circus and science shine bright together.
Time: 8pm
Venue: The Valley House
The Valley
Achill
F28 D8F7
Admission: Free drop in event, everyone is welcome, no booking required
Supported by
Dr Jay’s Science Show
Step right up for science with a showman’s touch! In this vintage-style spectacle, Dr Jay brings experiments to life with explosions, engineering marvels, and plenty of bangs, whooshes, and oohs.
Blending old-fashioned showmanship with modern science, expect flying sparks, curious contraptions, and discoveries that amaze and entertain in equal measure. A thrilling reminder that science can be every bit as exciting as the circus.
Time: 11am
Venue: Curraun Community Hall
Bun na Naeú
An Corrán
Acaill
Co. Mhaigh Eo
F28 W8K5
Admission: Free drop in event, everyone is welcome, no booking required
The Drop Science Bubble Show
ISL Interpreted Performance
World Premiere
Join curious scientist Finn on a fascinating journey as ordinary drops of water are transformed into something extraordinary.
The Drop Science Bubble Show combines fun and learning, revealing the science behind bubbles through stunning sculptures and mesmerizing formations.
From a bubble cube to a tornado in a bubble, this visually captivating show sparks wonder while teaching audiences of all ages how bubbles behave, bringing science to life.
Inspired by the works of Tom Noddy & Thomas Altman.
Time: 1pm
Venue: Westport Town Hall
Octagon Cahernamart
Westport
Co. Mayo
Admission: Tickets €8.00 – €10:00
Sparks: Circus Science Cabaret
For your entertainment, we present the Circus Science Family Cabaret – a dazzling mix of circus wonder and scientific curiosity!
From a climate clown, to mind-bending contortion, egg-experiments, a certified bubbleologist and a juggling doctor – every act comes with a scientific twist. Expect laughter, surprises and spectacular skill in a cabaret that proves when circus meets science, anything is possible.
Time: 3pm
Venue: Westport Town Hall
Octagon Cahernamart
Westport
Co. Mayo
Admission: Tickets €8.00 – €10:00
Achill Island, Basking Shark Fishermen
(Suitable for ages 12+)
ISL Interpreted Performance
From hunted to honoured. Over the last half century, Achill Island’s relationship with the basking shark has shifted from an active hunting industry to tourist attraction.
Using film, audio visual effects and newly compiled archive footage – set to an original score played live by Mayo’s leading traditional musicians – Achill Island, Basking Shark Fisherman traces the history of our relationship with these magnificent creatures of the Atlantic Ocean.
An evening full of understanding and compassion about who we are, what we did, and how we can change.
Don’t miss the live panel discussion after the show with The Achill Sound musicians and storytellers.
Time: 6pm
Venue: Westport Town Hall
Octagon Cahernamart
Westport
Co. Mayo
Admission: Tickets €10.00 – €15:00
Science Fun in the Foyer
Come along for Science Fun in the Foyer. Westport Town Hall will be buzzing with scientists and experts, ready to spark your curiosity with hands-on activities and fascinating facts. Keep an eye out for Science on Stilts too. Our real-life scientists will tower above the crowd, performing interactive experiments and answering your questions.
Time: All day
Venue: Westport Town Hall
Octagon Cahernamart
Westport
Co. Mayo
Admission: Free drop in event, everyone is welcome, no booking required
Supported by
Unsung Women of Science
(Suitable for ages 12+)
Musician and science writer Rebecca Mileham uses stories and songs to celebrate the forgotten women who made the periodic table of chemical elements. A morning of chemistry, coffee and croissants. All included.
Time: 11am
Venue: Mulranny Arts Centre
Erris Gateway
Westport
F28 N2Y5
Admission: Space is limited. Please reserve a seat for free. Suggested €10 donation on the door.
Circus Science Lab – Be first to see circus science debuts shows
Be the first to witness brand-new circus shows as they take their very first steps into the world! In this special showcase, three talented acts debut fresh creations blending circus with science. Expect the unexpected: from the science of circus revealed through the humble egg, to breathtaking feats of strength and balance from an acrobatic duo, to the wit and wonder of a female clown The Circus Science Lab is your chance to catch tomorrow’s highlights today.
Time: 1pm
Venue: Ted’s Bar and Restaurant Cashel
South Achill
Co. Mayo
F28 AX57
Admission: Free drop in event, everyone is welcome, no booking required
Community Science Showcase
Time: 2:30pm
Venue: Ted’s Bar and Restaurant Cashel
South Achill
Co. Mayo
F28 AX57
Be amazed by savvy science stars from Achill.
Discover the history of potatoes, fascinating facts about seaweed, the lifecycle of oysters and much, much more.
Supported by
Not sure what to expect? Check out this video from the 2023 Circus Science by the Sea Festival
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