Galway Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Galway, County Galway, Republic of Ireland)

Festivals in Galway run from the religious at Easter and Christmas, through to celebrations of traditional and modern music, dance, cultural events, theatre and literary readings. Other things to do each year in Galway include festivals relating to horse racing, horse, oysters, speed boats boats and St. Patrick himself.

In the summer months, particular highlights include the Film Fleadh and the Galway Arts Festival, with both of these events being staged in July and reliably drawing sizeable crowds. Whatever the occasion, the Irish certainly know how to put on a great show and welcome all who would like to join in.

Galway Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• New Year - festivities begin at midnight on December 31st, with fireworks hardly heard over the noise of cheering partygoers, continuing well into January 1st all over the city

February

• Tedfest / Father Ted Festival - late February, held on Inis Mor Island (Inishmore) - one of the nearby Aran Islands, this is an annual fan convention celebrating the popular Channel 4 sitcom based on the fictional Craggy Island (similar in appearance to Inis Mor)

March

• St. Patrick's Day - March 17th, the best known of all Irish festivals, celebrated wherever there are Irish folk. The festivities in Galway are some of the best, with parades, fireworks, street parties, lots of food and drink, and traditional music and dance
• Easter Sunday / Easter Monday - late March / early April, religious celebrations are held at the cathedral and other churches around the city

April

• Cuirt International Festival of Literature - late April, a chance for the Irish to express their love for poetry and literature, at the Galway Arts Centre

May

• Labour Day (Lá an Lucht Oibre) - first Monday in May, a public holiday throughout the country
• Lawrencetown May Festival - early May, a four-day event for all the family, held in the nearby town of Ballinasloe, some 60 km / 37 miles to the east
• Early Music Festival - late May, the city comes alive with concerts, street performances and other events, including walking tours of the medieval Latin Quarter, live music in the City Museum and a party cruise on Lough Corrib

June

• Round Ireland Offshore Powerboat Race - early June, world-class powerboats compete for the trophy and kudos of winning this race, which starts and ends in Galway Bay and attracts hordes of spectators, as well as up to 75 of these sleek, fast craft
• Bloomsday - mid-June, a celebration of the life and works of acclaimed Irish writer James Joyce

July

• Film Fleadh - early July, one of Ireland's principal film festivals, with many international films screened over six days, attracting acclaimed actors and directors since first being staged in the late 1980s. Venues include the Galway Omniplex on Headford Road, the Townhall Theatre on Courthouse Square and the Rowing Club at Woodquay, while open-air screenings take place at Eyre Square
• Galway Arts Festival - mid- to late July, a vibrant and colourful event, bringing visual artists and performers both national and international, plus huge numbers of visitors usually topping 100,000 people. Highlights include theatrical performances, comedy gigs, street parades, exhibitions of fine art and markets, all of which take place over two weeks
• Galway Racing Festival - late July to early August, including the horse races themselves, kicks off towards the end of July and featuring its grand finale at the beginning of August, being world-renowned for its fabulous horses, fun and fashion. Betting is considered to be optional

August

• Connemara Pony Show - a premier event for lovers of these cute ponies, taking place in August, attracting owners and breeders from across the world
• Galway Gay Pride - late August, with much excitement and glamour, including a raucous carnival parade and a host of LGBT parties

September

• Clarenbridge Oyster Festival - early September, held in the neighbouring village of Clarenbridge (Clarinbridge), this truly is the place to be for great Guinness, sumptuous oysters and lots of entertainment and music, both traditional and modern. The 100,000+ oysters couldn't be fresher, being harvested from the surrounding shallow waters of Dunbulcan Bay. Expect to find everything from golfing tournaments and gourmet dining, to photography exhibitions, yacht racing and market stalls
• Clifden Arts Week - mid-September, with music, dance, literary readings and talks, at the Station House Theatre in the coastal town of Clifden, located around 75 km / 47 miles to the north-west of the city
• Galway Oyster Festival - late September / early October, in case you missed the slightly earlier Clarenbridge version. This oyster fest has the same menu of delights, based on the absolute fact that you can never eat enough oysters. Especially notable is the Guinness World Oyster Opening Championship and the Oyster Pearl Competition, where a local lady is chosen to represent the celebrations and awarded a string of pearls
• Connemara Walking Festival - late September, a chance to enjoy the very best hiking trails around Connemara, held over four days
• Galway Bay Half Marathon and 10k - late September / early October, a 13.1 mile running race and 10K run/walk organised by Elverys Sports in association with Cancer Care West

October

• Dunmore Festival of Song - early October, concerts staged in the neighbouring village of Dunmore, sited approximately 45 km / 28 miles to the north
• Ballinasloe Horse Fair - early October, an equestrian extravaganza lasting just over a week, in the town of Ballinasloe
• Baboro International Arts Festival for Children - mid-October, one of the biggest Irish celebrations aimed at the younger generation, with various puppet and shadow shows, children's workshops, dancing and music suiting all the family
• Baffle Festival of Poetry and Craic - late October, in nearby Loughrea

November

• Tulca - mid-November, a celebration of contemporary visual art, with free exhibitions appealing to a wide audience
• Spirit of Voice - mid-November, a festival of song and the spoken word, with live music and workshops at venues such as the Quays Music, in aid of charity

December

• Christmas Festivities - throughout December, with Ireland being mainly a Catholic country, Christmas celebrations involve midnight masses and family get-togethers, as well as more lively versions
• Singers and their Songs Festival - much-loved traditional Irish music gets a boost, with gigs scattered around Galway's music venues
• St. Stephen's Day (Lá Fhéile Stiofáin) - December 26th, also referred to as Wren's Day, with live music, parties and canoeing at nearby Tuam (the St. Stephen's Day Paddle)