Best Sporting Events

One of Ireland’s few “dual counties,” Galway participates in both hurling and gaelic football. Galway has distinct county boards for the each sport, which is unusual even for a dual county. In Connemara, the Aran Islands, Inishbofin, North Galway, and the districts near Ballinasloe, football dominates as the most popular sport, whereas hurling is traditionally played mostly in the South and East of Galway County. Both sports are heavily supported in the city, where matches draw large crowds. The primary venue for both sports is Pearse Stadium in Salthill, Galway, where County teams frequently play home matches against teams from other counties. Club games however are played on pitches throughout the county with semi final and final games usually held in Pearse stadium where there is greater crowd capacity. However, supporters of gaelic football will claim that Tuam Ground, which served as Galway Footballers’ primary stadium for many years, is the Galway team’s spiritual home.

Since 1887, the Galway County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association has held an annual hurling competition for the top hurling teams in the county of Galway in Ireland called the Galway Senior Hurling Championship (also known as the Brooks Galway Senior Hurling Championship for sponsorship reasons). The games are split up into summer and autumn seasons, with the county final now taking place in November at Pearse Stadium. The competition, which was first played as a knockout event, now consists of a group stage followed by a knockout round of matches. The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship as a whole includes the Galway County Championship. The winners of the Galway county final automatically represent Connacht and compete in the All-Ireland Championship along with the winners of the other three provinces. The Galway County Championship currently features twenty-four teams. 29 different teams have each won the championship at least once. Castlegar holds the all-time record with a total of 17 titles won.

The atmosphere at Eamonn Deacy Park in Terryland is always electrifying on game days, whether you are a football fan or not, so you should definitely experience it while you are in Galway. The revered stadium, named in honor of Eamonn Deacy, a former player for Galway United and Aston Villa, comes to life everytime GUFC take the field, with The Maroon Army yelling, singing, and shouting from the stands as the action takes place. All ages will have a terrific time, and the tickets are a great deal given the entertainment on offer. Just a short stroll from Woodquay, have a drink or something to eat at one of the neighborhood pubs before you join the crowd making their way to Terryland. At halftime, you can eat warm drinks, snacks, and sweets from concession stands located throughout the stadium. You can also visit the club shop to purchase apparel that will allow you to proudly represent your team.

Whether you are from Galway or just visiting, you really must go to a Connacht Rugby match at the Sportsground. Established in 1885, Connacht Rugby competes against the finest teams in Europe and South Africa in the United Rugby Championship and also regularly in the Heinken Cup. Connacht Rugby offers the perfect match day experience for anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion, entertain business contacts, or simply enjoy a fun day out with friends and family within walking distance of Eyre Square. The rugby season runs from August through May.