We are almost expecting the waiters to juggle the wine glasses and dance pirouettes on the silver tables at the launch of "Diversions Temple Bar", the free, outdoor cultural programme to be held over the summer. Eve-Anne Cullinan, head of production at Temple Bar Properties tells of the street performers, the dancers and the mad kiddies' events which will take place in the two large squares. She admits that the words "outdoor" and "Ireland" do tend to jar. "When it was first envisaged people said `you're mad'," she says but points to the get-out-clause in the programme which warns people to "wear your weather gear".
Barney Whelan, the ESB's public relations manager, is here to announce its sponsorship of the Sunday Circus. "It's much more than face-painting," he says, referring to one event last year when kids and performers got inside a giant inflated fish and had a whale of a time. But do parents really need this type of torture on Sunday afternoon after a heavy Saturday night? "It's probably better than cooping the kids up at home." Point taken.
Dancers Jenny Roche and Justine Doswell reckon the outdoor thing definitely works. "It had a certain magic," says Doswell. Even more magical was the fact that people actually stayed to watch the entire piece. "The audience was really committed to staying for the show," says Liz Roche, choreographer and sister of Jenny who adds that contemporary dance is becoming more popular in Ireland.
One man who probably won't have a problem attracting people to his outdoor activity is sculptor Peter Kennedy, who has designed two mechanical objects from car chassis, which move around and bump into each other. Both kids and car fanatics will love it.
What artist Anne Seagrave admires about Diversions is the fact that it's free. "I'm hostile to the Theatre Festival which brings in companies from abroad and charges £15 to £20 to get in," she says. Film production manager, Gemma Fallon, says this summer will be the first she will have off in 15 years because of her seasonal-type work and is looking forward to checking out the activities. "It's a great idea. I love the idea of open air events." Her companion, artist Michael Craig agrees. We are all hoping for good weather.