By Elio Bonelli

The Macnas Parade: Cnámha La Loba took place on the streets of Dublin for the first time since 2019 as part of this year’s Bram Stoker festival. 

The festival, which is now in its tenth year, celebrates the life and work one of Ireland’s most beloved and iconic writers. 

This festival was produced by Schweppe Curtis Nunn and brought to life by Dublin City Council. 

One of the highlights of this festival was the Macnas Parade which drew in thousands of spectators despite the rainy weather. 

The parade, which was directed by James Riordan, tells the story of La Loba, a wild wolf-woman, who wanders the world collecting bones and preserving that which is in danger of being lost to the world. 

It is said that, as darkness falls, she prowls the streets along Lough Corrib, singing the bones – or “cnámha” in Irish – back to life by the light of the moon. 

The parade started at 7pm in Moore Street, turned onto Henry Street and travelled up to Mary Street, then turned right onto Capel Street, then left onto Little Britain Street and left again to finish on Halston Street. The parade lasted just over an hour.