LIKE a lot of other people I found myself, slightly bewildered, in a circus tent in Clonakilty last Saturday afternoon. I had attempted to resist it – lots of other things to do, lovely and sunny outside etc –  but it was pointless. If anyone wants a lesson in how to market an event, or just some tips in marketing in general, they should speak to the circus folk – every road I was on had been postered to within an inch of its life, every shop I was in the previous week had a poster, even the schools were contacted and offered, wait for it, free tickets (no catch!), so there was no escaping the fact that the circus was in town. So there we were, seated on the bleachers, popcorn in hand. I was less than enthusiastic while my side kick was off the scale excited even when I had to break the news that there probably wouldn’t be any performing bears or elephants (god, remember those days?).

But straight up, I have to say it was a tremendously enjoyable experience for a whole load of reasons. A few things struck me from the visit. Firstly, circus folk seem to incredibly hard working. Everyone had multiple jobs. The chap taking the tickets was also a clown; the person giving out the candy floss was simultaneously making coffees and also on a microphone reminding everyone to take their seats (while smiling); the juggler was also a trapeze artist (more on that later). There was absolutely no room for any slacking here. It definitely didn’t seem like the kind of set-up where you could say ‘I don’t do that,’ or ‘you’ll have to ask someone else about that’ or ‘the computer says no.’
Impressive.

Secondly, it occurred to me that we’re getting harder and harder to impress. At one point a woman was hanging by her toes (it could even have been one single toe) from a circle suspended from the top of the tent and I swear I heard someone say ‘Yeah … I’d say I could do that,’ while munching away on their crisps.  In fairness like! Later on, the juggler dropped one or two (of around 30) hoops, which my daughter was quick to point out. I felt it only fair to point out how he had also been part of an amazing trapeze act, and he successfully caught the guy hurtling towards him at top speed while he too was hanging upside from a trapeze bar, so I think we’ll forgive him dropping a hoop or two. 

Jeepers, it was a tough audience. I blame social media! Probably the only thing I wasn’t keen on were the clowns, or more specifically the fear that I’d be picked by one to join them in the ring which would me my worst nightmare. We were sitting near the front, so a bit like being at a live comedy gig, the thing was to avoid eye contact at all times and not draw any unnecessary attention to yourself. When we were kids my sister was plucked from the crowd to take part in a circus act where she had to hop on a horse, and was unsuspectingly hoisted off at various intervals and swung through the air while everyone laughed. Forty years later it’s still in our top ten favourite family stories of all time. Anyway I wasn’t picked and those that were, were great sports so it was all good.

In the meantime, I simply can’t comprehend how we’re nearly at the June Bank Holiday weekend. I know most weeks I express surprise at how fast the year is going but is it just me, or does this year seem like it’s on a different speed setting entirely? The next few weeks are always very busy ones  – schools have sports days, shows, recitals, concerts etc. Everything has to be wrapped up one way or another in the next while and things can get … intense. To prevent the wheels coming off, my advice is to write things down in the diary (I’m old school), reply to WhatsApps as soon as they land or you’ll forget and above all, spare a thought for our teachers who are quite possibly down to their very last nerve at this point. Actually, there seems to be a general sense of frazzled-ness in the air so deep breaths all round right?

Things are getting really real for those sitting state exams now. Poor craturs. It’s all well and good saying that everything will be fine, and it will, but they’re still the ones who have to turn over the exam papers and get stuck in. The fact that my stomach lurches when I even type that scenario says it all. I honestly can’t remember too much about my Leaving Cert except that a few weeks before kick off, I started getting odd tingling in my fingers and face. I was in boarding school and somehow it was deduced by my pals (no Dr Google then) that I was having a stroke. So off home I went, and a doctor was called to the house (I don’t think you’d get a house visit now if you were on your death bed … I sound prehistoric). I can remember being propped up in bed like some sickly creature in the Victorian era when the doc called and kindly suggested I might go outside and kick a ball or go for a walk. We didn’t really talk about stress then, but clearly the pressure was getting to me. I don’t think the seven coffees a day I was having was helping much either. Anyway, exam students, please remember to sleep, get the healthy snacks in, get fresh air, drink water, and realise that people have done it before you, people will do it after you. Above all, show up for yourself and know you can handle way more than you think. Like labour, the pain is short lived and it’s worth the effort.

Finally, back to the circus as  we left the cocoon of the tent, squinting as we emerged back out to daylight, and to reality, I wondered what it would be like to run away with the circus, for a while. There’d be great job satisfaction  that’s for sure – any day you don’t drop someone on their head has to be a good one. Now personally, I’m not great with heights but I’d surely manage the popcorn or face painting. Just one of my random thoughts. But when the circus next comes to town, roll up, roll up and head along. This sort of diversity deserves support.