Festivals

To explore with children the wonder of their world through the magic of creative expression. Baboró International Arts Festival for Children is recognised as the leading Irish arts festival devoted exclusively to children with an attendance record of over 72,000 since its foundation in 1997. One week every October is devoted to presenting high quality national and international arts for children.

The Ballinasloe October Horse Fair is one of the oldest fairs in Ireland. Referred to as the “Great Cattle Fair” of Ballinasloe, at one stage it was renowned as the largest and greatest in all of Europe. The Ballinasloe Horse Fair & Festival takes place in October in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway. Known as the gateway to the West, Ballinasloe is situated on the N6, main Galway - Dublin route.

The Burren Slow Food Festival is a showcase of all that is good about food from County Clare in one of the best possible settings - the Burren. Enjoy cookery demonstrations, farmers market, food talks and cookin' for kids workshops. The festival is about Community spirit and involves local & national chefs in Cookery demonstrations. Friday starts with a workshop involving local Producers and other stakeholders. Saturday and Sunday will have Cookery demonstrations, Food Talks, Childrens Workshops & a Farmer's Market. Expect top local and celebrity chefs, TV personalities and famous foodies to be involved throughout.

Clarenbridge's Oyster Festival is a celebration of its native oyster - a delicacy and some say an aphrodisiac - eaten locally for thousands of years and now enjoyed by people from around the world. Thousands of people from all over the world come to Clarenbridge each year to enjoy the oysterfest.

Clifden Arts Festival is a popular festival with an eclectic programme ranging from comedy to music and drama to literature. Takes place annually during September.

The Connemara Marahon comprises of a Half Marathon, a Full Marathon and is Ireland's only on-road Ultra Marathon (39.3 miles). Taking place in March/April every year, the event regularly attracts a sell out field with representatives from over 30 Countries.

Cruinniu na mBad, meaning "Gathering of the Boats", is a festival held in August each year, which brings us back in time, to when the majestic Galway Hookers used to transport turf/peat to Kinvara.

The Cuirt International Festival of Literature is a significant literary festival which incorporates a wide range of Irish and international writers, poets and artists, who converge on Galway for six days of readings and discussion every year. The festival also features writing workshops and the Irish Times debate.

The Galway Americana Festival takes place at a number of venues throughout Galway city from the 10th to 13th Spetember 2009. 'Americana' is a label loosely used to describe alternative modern country music, music with that 'twang thang' which isn't strictly country in the 'Nashville' sense of the word, but nonetheless shares common roots. As far as the Galway Americana Festival goes, the organisers are taking the broader meaning of the word, i.e. any American roots music, not simply modern 'alternative country', but folk and roots music in all its glorious forms including Bluegrass, Country, Blues, Cajun, Americana, old-timey and even a quiff of rockabilly! This festival is a celebration of of root-and-branch American folk forms and promisses to offer something to please everyone! <br><br> The Galway Americana Festival 2009 will be launched with a show at the Crane Bar on 21st August by Jeff & Vida. Artists taking part in the main festival (10-13 Sept.) include Bill Evans & Megan Lynch, Clive Barnes, John Martin & Boucherie (Cajun), and Erin McDermott & Doug Perkins. Full details of programme, venues, and artists can be seen on the Festival website at the above link.

Galway Arts Festival is Ireland's leading arts festival, first held in 1978 this two week spectacular showcases the best in dancing, street performance, music, literary and children's events and art exhibitions. Over 150,000 people attend Festival annually with hundreds of writers, artists, performers and musicians creating theatre, spectacle, street art, music, comedy, literature and music producing a wonderful fortnight of cultural activity and celebration. <br><br>Theatre and dance companies including Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Chicago, the Royal National Theatre, London, The Royal Court, James Thierree, Stephen Petronio Dance Company, Hubbard Street Dance, The Abbey Theatre and Galway’s world famous Druid Theatre have all performed at the Festival. Artists and musicians including Bill Viola, Joni Mitchell, Hughie O’Donoghue, Walker Evans, David Byrne, Blondie, David Gray, Brodsky String Quartet, Stephen Isserlis and Philip Glass have all recently participated at the Festival.

The Galway Beer Festival in association with Great Irish Beer Festival is back for 2009! Beer lovers and connoisseurs are expected to once again flock to the biggest beer festival in Ireland from 30th - 31st October. There will be over 100 different beers, ciders and ales from all over the world on offer. Throughout the event, you will have the opportunity to taste and purchase an array of products from the very best of Ireland's and the world's innovative and unique drinks companies and meet some of the brewers, distillers and cider makers behind the high-quality range of products on offer. From Galway Hooker and Hersbrucker to Svyturys Ekstra Draught, Chimay Blue and Hoegaarden, and flavours like chocolate and banana, as well as a selection of non-alcoholic beers, there's something to wet every whistle.

The Galway Comedy Festival is the highlight of the West of Ireland's comedy calendar. The 2010 event is taking place in October throughout the following venues in Galway - Roisin Dubh, Kelly''s Bar, Town Hall Theatre, Black Box, Radisson Blu Hotel, and more to be announced. The main acts to perform this year are likely to be Jason Byrne, PJ Gallagher, Des Bishop, Neil Delamare plus many more.

The Galway Early Music Festival is an exciting international event that celebrates the culture of Europe from the 12th to the 18th centuries through authentic music, dance, costume and colour set in the medieval city of Galway. Held annually over a weekend in mid-May weekend, the festival's goal is to entertain and inform an ever-increasing audience in the music and dance of the medieval, renaissance and baroque periods of history through a series of concerts, workshops and masterclasses. Interaction is encouraged between professional and amateur musicians in order to produce historically accurate performances, as well as introducing early music and dance to primary and secondary school children as part of their heritage. Highlights of the festival include a walking tour of medieval Galway, costumed parades, a treasure hunt, oral storytelling and mime, minstrel singing and Ceili dancing. Events are held in the cathedral, various city centre churches, the city library and Galway Rowing Club in Woodquay.

The Galway Film Fleadh is a 6 day international film festival held every July, welcoming a wide diversity of filmmaking from around the world. The 2010 festival will take place from July 6th - July 11th 2010. The Fleadh is very much a filmmakers' festival, and attracts directors, actors, cinematographers and artists of all generations and cultural backgrounds, who present their work before their peers. Founded twenty years ago, the central goal of the Galway Film Fleadh remains unchanged: to bring together audiences and filmmakers within an intimate environment, and share a common experience – the wonder of cinema. Guests have included: Jeremy Irons, Kathy Bates, Paul Schrader, Robert Towne, Matt Dillon, Stephen Frears, Maureen O’Hara, Anthony Minghella, Pierce Brosnan, Woody Harrelson, Sir Richard Attenborough, Peter O’Toole, Michael Moore, Oliver Reed, Jim Sheridan and Neil Jordan to name but a few.

Galway International Rally takes place from Friday, February 1st to Sunday, February 3rd 2008. The 2008 Safety Direct Galway International Rally is, as last year, the opening round of The Global Group Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.