Puppet of a child refugee who will journey to Dundalk

Don't miss the chance to be part of something truly special!  Join An Táin Arts Centre for the incredible journey of Little Amal, a giant puppet on a mission of hope and unity. 

Little Amal is the 12 foot puppet of a 10 year old Syrian refugee child who has become a global symbol of human rights, especially those of refugees. Amal, whose name means Hope in Arabic, is from just outside Aleppo in Syria.  

She has visited 160 towns and cities in 16 countries and has been welcomed by two million people on the street and by tens of millions online. 

Her journeys are celebrations of art and hope that draw attention to the huge numbers of children and their families fleeing war, violence and persecution, each with their own story.  Her urgent message to the world is ‘Don’t forget about us’. 

Little Amal will travel to Dundalk on her way from Belfast to Dublin, an especially powerful and meaningful journey.  Other famous borders she has crossed include from the US into Mexico, from Turkey into Greece, from Poland into Ukraine. 

She will arrive at Market Square, Dundalk on Wednesday 22nd May at 6:30pm and will be welcomed by Breifne Holohan and a band of Irish musicians, members of MAD Youth Theatre and Setanta Choir.  As part of the visit, Primary School Children from Faughart Community National School have been partaking in art workshops with local artist Sophie Coyle in preparation for Amal’s arrival. MAD Youth Theatre will then take part in a short movement performance to welcome Amal.  Members of the public are encouraged to greet and engage with Amal. 

Amal is due to arrive at Market Square at 6:30pm where we hope she will make many new friends and experience aspects of Irish culture that will bring her joy. 

Little Amal carries a message of hope for displaced people.  Her journeys draw attention to issues such as immigration policy especially with regard to children fleeing war, violence and persecution.  Her journeys are produced by The Walk Productions in association with Handspring Puppet Company. 

Visit www.antain.ie or https://www.walkwithamal.org/ to learn more and get involved in this inspiring event!  ‘Walk with Amal’ Wednesday 22nd May at 6:30pm  An Táin Arts Centre. This is a free off-site event at Market Square Dundalk. No booking is required. 

Amal’s visit to Dundalk comes as she journeys from Belfast to Dublin as part of Belfast 2024, in partnership with ArtsEkta, Dublin city Council and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. 

Little Amal’s journeys are produced by The Walk Productions, a not-for-profit company founded by Producers David Lan and Tracey Seaward with Artistic Director Amir Nizar Zuabi. The Walk Productions presents large scale participatory public art that brings communities together to challenge assumptions, rethink narratives and provoke change. Their next production – coming in 2025 – is The Herds, a vast act of theatre to spark climate action.  

Little Amal was designed and built by Handspring Puppet Company, whose work has been presented in more than 30 countries around the world spanning four decades. Their Puppetry design for War Horse established Handspring as one of the most important puppet companies in the world. 

Since Little Amal’s creation in 2021, she has travelled to 160 towns and cities in 16 countries and been welcomed by over two million people and tens of millions online, through creative events led by artists and local communities. She has also won a range of awards, including being named New York’s No. 1 Art Event by Time Out magazine in 2022. The Walk 2021 was a co-production with Good Chance Theatre.

Since Amal has started walking, she has raised £770,000 for The Amal Fund with Choose Love, providing urgently-needed support for refugee and displaced children all over the world.