AUGUST
28th -30th August
Galway Races Autumn Festival Meeting
Adrenalin-pumping action, heart-stopping finishes and breath-taking fashion; you are at the Galway Races. Situated on the outskirts of Galway city, in the West of Ireland, the Galway Race Festivals are world renowned.
29th August
Galway City Marathon
The Galway City Marathon encompasses a marathon, half-marathon and relay event of two, three or four-person teams. There is also a 50km ultramarathon race. The races start at 09:00 on 29 August 2010. Marathon participants traverse a two-loop course of the city to complete 42.195km (26 miles and 385 yards), while half-marathon competitors run a single circuit of the course. The Galway Relay Marathon will involve two, three or four-person relay teams who will collectively run the Galway City Marathon course of 42.195km. Four-person relay participants will run legs of 9.9km, 11.2km, 9.9km and 11.2km, respectively, while two or three person team can run combinations of these leg distances. The course is scenic and embodies the city's landmark features, including Galway Harbour, Eyre Square, Galway Cathedral, the University, Salthill Promenade, Galway Bay, the Claddagh and Long Walk. In addition, a conference with top speakers, including former world track champions Sonia O'Sullivan, Marcus O'Sullivan and Frank O'Mara will also take place on 28th August.
SEPTEMBER
10th – 12th September
Clarenbridge Oyster Festival
Great food, great Guinness, great music and entertainment all in a splendid marquee on the banks of the Claren River which flows through the village of Clarenbridge on the edge of Galway Bay.
16th – 19th September
Galway Americana Festival
The Galway Americana Festival will ring American roots music to Galway; Bluegrass, Cajun, Blues, Folk, Country, Old-Timey, etc. In musical terms, 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, we 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 it's glorious forms; Bluegrass, Country, Blues, Cajun, Americana, Old-Timey.. hell, even a quiff of Rockabilly! This festival is a celebration of root and branch American folk forms.
16th – 26th September
Clifden Arts Week
Clifden Arts Festival is a popular festival with an eclectic program including poetry, music, literature and readings, comedy theatre and walks.
19th September
Psychic & Holistic Fair
Ireland's top mediums, psychics and clairvoyants, will be in Galway soon There will also be angel and tarot faery, tea leaves and fortune tellers in addition to aura photography, aura soma, crystals and angels. There will be holistic therapies to relax, renew and heal. There will also be natural products and solutions to enrich your life. There will be 40 stands, with natural cosmetics, books and CDs, crafts and much more
22nd – 26th September
Galway International Oyster Festival
The Galway International Oyster Festival is a food festival held annually in Galway during September, the first month of the oyster season. Inaugurated in 1954, it was begun by Great Southern Hotel manager, Brian Collins, and in 2000 was described by the Sunday Times as "one of the 12 greatest shows on earth". Book the this weekend into your diary for an unique weekend of Guinness & Oysters, sensational live music and entertainment, craic, Best Dressed Lady competition, Street Party in the Latin Quarter and the Guinness World Oyster Opening Championships. What more could you want?
OCTOBER
1st – 3rd October
The Galway Chess Congress
The Galway Chess Congress which is now an annual event, attracts approximately 200 competitors of all ages who play over the weekend. Competitors come from various parts of Ireland, as well as some from the North of Ireland, and a few from the UK. The prize fund is just under €4,500 and is distributed in four different competitions according to the players ability. The top section usually includes at least one chess grandmaster (GM) which is the highest rank of chess players. However, the majority of entrants will be in the "Minor" section which is for lower-ranked players. Many of the competitors in that section will be youngsters from as young as 5. Most of the youngsters will have family with them, so 200 competitors usually means twice that in terms of visitors to Galway.
4th October
Cathy Davey
Cathy Davey plays a one off gig at the Town Hall Theatre
11th – 17th October
Baboro - International Arts Festival for Children
National and International theater, puppetry, music, dance etc. for children. Including family events and workshops with a full program to be launched shortly!
21st – 25th October
Galway Comedy Festival.
Welcome to the fifth annual Galway Comedy Festival. There's a whole range of styles to suit every taste, and you will not be disappointed. Look out for surprise gigs not listed that will pop up here, there and everywhere over the weekend, and whatever else you do, remember, its only a joke!
24th & 25th October
Galway Races October Bank Holiday
Adrenalin-pumping action, heart-stopping finishes and breath-taking fashion; you are at the Galway Races. Situated on the outskirts of Galway city, in the West of Ireland, the Galway Race Festivals are world renowned.
25th – 31st October
Galway Theatre Festival 2010
An opportunity for emerging theatre companies from near and far to showcase their est! This has been listed as one of the highlights of the cultural year by several papers. Watch this space for more information!
October
Galway Abooo! Halloween Festival 2010
Dates to be confirmed. Ghosts, zombies, vampires, demons and all kinds of other strange beings will be taking to the streets of Galway’s ‘Latin Quarter’ as the city will be transformed into Ghoulway, and will come alive with free wicked entertainment!
NOVEMBER
5th – 20th November
Tulca – Season of Visual Arts
Tulca is the Gaelic word for wave, flood, deluge, gush, outpouring. It is an independent organisation that reflects a unique coming together of eight arts organisations. Working through partnership TULCA - season of visual arts, is capable of presenting a diverse programme of quality visual art projects that engages and inspires. This allows the whole community of Galway and the West of Ireland to become active participants in visual culture, that celebrates with vitality what the visual arts have to offer.
10th – 13th November
Galway Junior Film Fleadh
This year, the Junior Film Fleadh are proud to pay host to feature films and documentaries that will inform, educate and entertain their audiences. The Junior Film Fleadh caters for young people as a distinctive cinema going audience by encouraging them to become involved in film through screenings, workshops and other related activities (eg script competition).
11- 13th November
Spirit of Voice Festival
The annual Spirit of Voice Festival is a cultural celebration of song and spoken word. It will take place at multiple venues in Galway City. This is Galway's multi-cultural festival which features song and spoken words from stylish voices that make this city a unique refreshing and talented place to live. Forms of performance will include - sean nós, rap, choirs, gospel, soul, slam, poetry, overtone, opera and storytelling. Communities represented will include Asian, African, South American, Eastern European, Canadian and Caribbean Irish.
