The manager of a local charity project that teaches circus skills to children has vowed to re-establish the project in the wake of its van being burnt out by vandals earlier this month.

The signature Galway Circus Project van was set alight and destroyed by fire earlier this month in a random attack but Project Manager Karin Wimmer said the project would continue. And, she has appealed to the people of Galway to help re-establish the circus.

In an emotional open letter to those responsible, Ms Wimmer blasted the vandals and said they had not just burnt down a van but burnt down an existence.

"You have no idea, what you have destroyed. That morning you burnt down also an existence, you just cut down the wire I had managed to walk on for so long. I wanted to give back to Galway and this country what it had given to me since I moved here.

"I deeply felt that starting this circus will help so many young people in their future and will brighten up the life in Galway. With a single bang, you destroyed what took me years of working seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. There was no break, but I loved doing it, well most of the time anyway, because I saw a reason in what I did. What was your reason?

"Making people smile and creating laughter is my ultimate aim and the circus was on its best way. It really was the smallest circus in Ireland, an Sorcas Beag, and certainly one of its kind in Europe and maybe we get something similar up again, but it won't be the same," she wrote.

Ms Wimmer said the project had brought young people together from Belfast and Galway and it intended to keep these meetings going in the future.

"We wanted to open the circus to everybody, only charged those who could afford it, but many took part for free. In a long run, we hoped to make it free for everybody to get this kind of non-competitive and playful exercise. We kept the classes going for four years, no breaks and I really hope we will be able to continue."

Ms Wimmer said she had not yet decided whether the circus would continue in Galway or elsewhere, and called on the people of the city and county to show their appreciation for the charity.

"We just achieved charity status, formed the limited company and everything seemed to be together, but now we are standing again at the beginning."

She said the project urgently needed financial and human help. It needs a new, ("well drivable") van and enough money to equip it again for outreach.

For more information on the Galway Circus Project, log on to http://galwaycircusproject.com or phone Galway Community Circus on 091-762940.

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