January

1st December 2010 – 8th January 2011
The Ice Factor
This Christmas, Galway City's Carlton Hotel on the Dublin Road will stage an ice skating extravaganza. The Icefactor rink at the Carlton Hotel, Galway City, will occupy 600 square metres at the front of this landmark hotel and promises fantastic fun for all the family.

20th – 22nd January
Chamber Music Festival
Music for Galway's annual weekend. The Galway Ensemble in Residence, ConTempo Quartet will be joined by Amstel Quartet - 4 excellent saxophone players from The Netherlands and Gavin Ring - baritone and winner of NCH Bernadette Greevy Bursary 2010. Also featured will be Galway choreographer/dancer Judith Sibley and video artist Mihai Cucu.

February

3rd – 5th February
Safety Direct Galway International Rally
The Safety Direct Galway International Rally Headquarters will be at the Clayton Hotel in 2012 where you will be assured of a warm welcome and excellent entertainment during the weekend. The Galway International Rally has a proud, successful history; including being the first ever round of the Irish Tarmac Championship in 1978. Today the rally is still the traditional season opener, drawing top competitors and huge crowds of spectators to Galway every year for the February festivities. It has also been a favourite of works World Rally teams, who have used the event in the past couple of years as a shakedown for Rally Ireland

23rd – 26th Februry
Tedfest 6
The Fr. Ted Festival popularly known as Ted Fest, is a celebration of the life of comedian Dermot Morgan and his 1990's cult TV sitcom Father Ted. The Friends of Ted event sees a huge influx of Father Ted fans, most dressed as characters of the show, taking part in an array of themed events associated with the comedy series including fancy dress, five-aside football (nuns against priests), toilet duck comedy awards, buckaroo speed dating, lovely girls contest and A Song For Europe. The 2012 festival is on the 26th - 29th February. See the Ted Fest web site for more information.

March

3rd March
Kinvara Rock and Road
The Kinvara Rock and Road Half Marathon and 10K Road Race takes place on Saturday, 3rd March, in Kinvara.

11th March
"Eireann agus Alba" Concert
"Eireann agus Alba" concert will take place in Áras na nGael on Sunday, 11th March 2012 beginning at 20.00.

16th – 18th March
Connemara Four Seasons Walking Festival - Spring
The Connemara Four Seasons Walking Festival - Spring - takes place from the 16th-18th March 2012. In Spring 2012 the tour takes place over St. Patricks weekend from 16 - 18 March and follows in Patrick's footsteps with a pilgrimage hike in the Maamturk Mountains and a trek to the magnificent Martin Estate and Twelve Bens Mountain Range.

17th 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. Pipe bands, dance groups and performance artists come from all over the world to Galway each year to experience a parade that is widely regarded as one of the best in Ireland. The beauty of the Galway Parade is that it is small enough for group to truly feel a part of, yet big enough to create a special atmosphere. Up to 50,000 spectators line the streets each year and some of the narrow walkways create an intimate cauldron that is an unforgettable experience for all participants. The Parade route moves through the centre of the medieval city, a 1.5 mile journey through narrow cobbled streets, turning onto long wide roads. The route is thronged with spectators from start to finish, creating a non-stop carnival atmosphere.

31st March – 15th April
Slieve Aughty Easter Festival
The Easter Festival is a family event at Slieve Aughty Riding Centre and takes place from the 31st March to 15th April, 2012. Easter is a lovely time at the centre as it seems to coincide with warmer weather, emerging flowers and longer days that inspire us to shake out the dust of winter and get busy. There are plenty of animals around to visit, or you can go for a ride on one of our friendly horses or ponies. Step into the restaurant and fill your senses with the scent of fresh, homemade cooking, or simply grab a hot coffee or tea and sit outside in the garden. The kids can make an Easter craft to bring home, and the whole family can try out a silly "spring" wardrobe and take some family photos.

 April

1st April
Connemara International Marathon (Connemarathon)
The 10th Connemara International Marathon is a day of racing around a very scenic part of the West of Ireland. Comprising of a half marathon (13.1 miles), a full marathon (26.2 miles), and Ireland's only on-road Ultra Marathon 39.3 mile ultra marathon, all taking place on the one day.

13th  – 15th April
Clifden Traditional Music Festival
Clifden Traditional Music Festival is a weekend of the very best of Irish music, song and dance with concerts, sessions, workshops and outdoor entertainment, and takes place from the 13th-15th April 2012. Clifden Comhaltas are delighted to announce – the 2nd “Clifden Traditional Music Festival”which will take place on the weekend of the 15th – 17th April 2011. Its going to be a weekend of the very best of Irish Music, song and dance! Top class visiting musicians from all over the country including – Sligo, Fermanagh, Clare, Galway, Leitrim, and Mayo, have been invited with a host of All Ireland Champions among them.

15th April
Concert Series Finale
Concert Series Finale will take place on Sunday, 15th April, in the Augustinian Priory, beginning at 20.00.

24th  – 29th April 2012
Cúirt International Festival of Literature
Cúirt International Festival of Literature is an annual celebration of the very best of contemporary writing in poetry, fiction and memoir, and takes place in Galway City

30th April – 1st May
The O'Sullivan Beara Walking Festival
The O'Sullivan Beara Walking Festival takes place on the 30th April & 1st May 2012 on the Suck Valley Way. (Postponed from original dates due to weather conditions).


May

4th – 7th May
Leenane Walking Festival
The Leenane Mountain Walking Festival, which takes place from the 4th-7th May, has something for all levels of walkers - guided walks, low-level guided walks and self-guided short walks.

4th – 6th May
Connemara Mussel Festival on the Renvyle Peninsula
A celebration of Killary Mussels harvested from “One of the Forty Places to See Before you Die” takes place from the 4th to 6th May 2012, on the glorious Renvyle Peninsula in North Connemara.

4th – 7th May
Fleadh na gCuach - The Cuckoo Festival
Fleadh na gCuach (The Cuckoo Festival) takes place annually in Kinvara on the May Bank Holiday weekend - 4th-7th May, 2012. It is a hugely enjoyable and successful traditional music and community-based arts festival.

5th – 6th May
An Tóstal Festival
After over 50 years, Galway will again host “An Tóstal”, on the 5th & 6th May, a festival celebrating local traditions, customs, and the language and music of Ireland.

17th – 20th May
Galway Early Music Festival
The Galway Early Music Festival is an international festival featuring medieval, renaissance and baroque music and dance; and, it takes place from the 17th-20th May, 2012.

22nd May
Flower and Garden
Roundstone Biodiversity Day will take place on the 22nd May with the opening of new gardens in the village and the planting of biodiversity plants.

25th – 27th May
Inishbofin Island Walking Festival
The inaugural Inishbofin Island Walking Festival takes place from the 25th-27th May, on the lovely island of Inishbofin. It will be a celebration of walking featuring the three new looped walks on the island.

25th May – 4th June
Clifden 200
Clifden 200 will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the founding of the town of Clifden, the capital of Connemara, in 1812 with a series of indoor and outdoor events focusing on the rich heritage of the region.

June

1st  – 3rd June
Havana Cultura Festival Festivals
Havana Cultura (formerly Little Havana Festival) returns to Galway's Latin Quarter over the June Bank Holiday weekend, 1st-3rd June.

2nd June
Connemara Rough Diamond
The Connemara Rough Diamond Adventure Race is a mix of biking, hiking and running, and takes place on the 2nd June, 2012.

7th – 10th June
International Quilt Festival of Ireland
The International Quilt Festival of Ireland will take place in May 2012 on the NUI Campus in Galway City.

11th – 17th June
The Galway Sessions  
The 11th Galway Music Sessions Festival takes place in multiple venues in Galway City from the 11th-17th June, 2012.

16th – 24th  June
Summer Solstice Festival
Celebrate the arrival of summer with the Summer Solstice Festival which takes place at Slieve Aughty Riding Centre from the 16th-24th June.

24th – 30th June
Week of Welcome - Ireland Reaching Out
Week of Welcomes takes place in South East Galway from the 24th June-30th June. Many events will be taking place during the week.

29th June – 1st July
Pátrún Inis Mór Festivals
Pátrún Inis Mór takes place on the Aran Islands, from the 29th June-1st July, and is a weekend of music and various activities for all the family. Spóirt, damhsa, rásaí, etc. in Inis Mór.

July

10th – 15th July
Galway Film Fleadh  
The Galway Film Fleadh, Ireland's leading film festival, is a six-day international event, held every July and welcomes a diversity of films from around the world. The Fleadh is very much a filmmaker's festival and attracts directors, actors, cinematographers and artists of all generations and cultural backgrounds, who present their work before their peers.

14th  – 15th July
Galway Garden Festival
The second annual Galway Garden Festival will take place at Claregalway Castle on Saturday and Sunday, 14th and 15th July 2012. The festival will be open from 11.00 to 18.00 each day.

16th – 29th July
Galway Arts Festival
Galway Arts Festival is Ireland's largest annual arts festival, taking place each July in the city of Galway, featuring theatre, dance, visual arts, music, talks and much more.

21st July
Joyce Country Challenge
There are three categories of walks in the Joyce Country Challenge for 2012 which will all start and finish in Finney Community Centre in Finney Village, just 8 kms (5 miles) from the Co Galway town of Clonbur.

22nd July
Mountbellew Vintage Rally
Mountbellew Vintage Club 13th Annual Rally takes place on Sunday, 22nd July 2012, incorporating the I.V.E.T.A. National Rally.

30th July – 5th August
Galway Races - Summer Festival
The Galway Racing Festival takes place at Ballybrit Racecourse from Monday-Sunday, 30th-5th August.


August

8th – 11th August
Umbro Galway Cup Tournament
Umbro Galway Cup is Ireland's leading under-age soccer event which attracts 60 teams from all over Ireland, Europe and America, and takes place at Drum Soccer Park, Drum

9th August
Tour de Bog Cycle
The annual 25km fun charity cycle for all ages through the majestic beauty of Connemara, takes place on the 9th August, and goes from Roundstone to Ballyconneely and back in to Roundstone via the Bog Road.

13th – 19th August
Festival of the Connemara Pony & Show
The Festival of the Connemara Pony is a celebration of the Connemara Pony breed with week-long activities from the 13th - 19th August 2012.

17th – 19th August
Cruinniu na mBad Festival
Cruinniú na mBád (Gathering of the Boats) festival takes place in Kinvara, Co. Galway, from the 17th-19th August, 2012.

18th August
Gaelforce West
Gaelforce Adventure Race takes place on the 18th August, and the course of approx. 67km stretches from the stunning Glassilaun beach in Connemara to Westport in Co Mayo.

19th August
Connemara Watersports Day
Annual Fundraiser for ISPCC & Childline takes place on Sunday, 19th August, commencing at 13.00. Activities include scuba-diving, kayaking, boat rides, raft race, pony rides, barbecue, children’s races and games, bouncy castle, etc.

25th – 26th August
Oughterard Show
The Oughterard Show is a two-day event involving Connemara Performance Championships on Saturday, 25th August, and a wide range of exhibits, family events and entertainment on Sunday, 26th August, 2012.

September

2nd September
Ironman
The Ironman 70.3 triathlon event is the world's premium triathlon event, and takes place in Galway on Sunday, 2nd September, 2012. The 70.3 races consist of a 1.9-km swim / 90-km bike / 21.1-km run.

7th – 9th September
Clarenbridge Oyster Festival
The Clarenbridge Oyster Festival takes place from the 7th-9th September, 2012; and has, for many years, been established as a premier event of top-class international entertainment accompanied by fine culinary delights.

9th -11th Septmber
Galway Races - Autumn Festival
The Autumn Galway Racing Festival is a three-day race meeting with a mixture of flat and national hunt racing.

13th – 16th September
Galway Americana Festival
The Galway Americana Festival will take place from the 13th-16th September 2012, bringing American roots music to Galway; Bluegrass, Cajun, Blues, Folk, Country, Old-Timey, etc.

20th – 30th September
Clifden Arts Festival
Clifden Community Arts Week is a celebration of the arts, including poetry reading, lectures, recitals and traditional music, and takes place from the 20th-30th September.

20th – 23rd September
Portumna Shorelines Arts Festival
The fourth annual Portumna Shorelines Arts Festival takes place from the 20th to 23rd September.

21st – 23rd September
Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival
The Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival takes place from Friday-Sunday, 21st-23rd September, and is a weekend of non-stop entertainment

29th September – 6th October
Ballinasloe International October Fair & Festival
The Ballinasloe International October Fair & Festival is a 9-day event to cater for equestrian lovers, family entertainment, music and fun which takes place from the 1st - 9th October.

29th – 30th September
Leenane Autumnal Festival
The Leenane Autumnal Festival will be held in the picturesque village of Leenane, set at the head of Killary Harbour, on the 29th and 30th September.

October

15th – 21st October
Baboró International Arts Festival for Children
Baboró International Arts Festival for Children takes place in Galway City from the 15th-21st October.

19th – 21st October
All Ireland Open Festival of Dancing Championships
The 24th Annual All Ireland Open Festival of Dancing Championships will be held in the Lady Gregory Hotel, Gort, from Friday 19th-Sunday 21st October, 2012.