Paulo's circus is operated by a family whose beginning in circus date from the end of the last century.

Frank Paulo, a well-known clown married Clara at the age of 18 when he came to work on her

Father's circus. They began Paulo's circus in Ireland before World war one. After serving in France Frank rejoined Clara and their Family.

The circus ran through the 1920s, 1930s, and through World war two with Madam Clara as it's indomitable head after Frank's death from pneumonia in 1929. Their eight children, and their respective husbands and wives, played their part, all being highly talented performers.

Since the close of the original show in 1949, the youngest daughter but one Clara, and her husband Ken MacManus, their daughter Evelyn, later joined by her husband John Darnell, have been featured with their riding displays as the Mohawks and the ascots on many top circuses on the continent and great Britain, including five years with Bertram Mills circus.

In 1983, they founded the new Paulo's circus. John and Evelyn Darnell's son Kenny represents the fifth generation on this long running circus dynasty in the show and he and his wife Kathy's young family are the sixth.