Galway News, Festivals & Events

The Westwood shorlisted for WeddingsOnline.ie Award The Westwood Hotel was recently shortlisted as one of the Top 50 Wedding Venues in Ireland in The 2012 Weddingsonline.ie Irish Wedding Industry Awards. The hotel was shortlisted via recommendations and reviews from our 2011 bridal couples and their invited guests. The winners will be announced at an Awards ceremony on Monday, 20 February 2012 in the Crowne Plaza, Northwood, Santry, Co. Dublin We are delighted to be nominated to look forward to creating more enduring memories in 2012 and beyond.

Find out which events are on in Galway during your stay at this 4 star hotel in Galway. There is usually a lot going on…even if it’s not a huge festival or event, you’ll be sure to find a good party in the cities pubs & live music venues.

December

Galway Christmas Market

25th November - 18th December 2011

The Galway Christmas Market will take up residence in Eyre Square in the centre of the city from the 25th November to the 18th December this year. The market promises to be a highlight of the Christmas Season and will make for a wonderful attraction for visitors young and old. Sample Christmas treats from all from around Europe including a Santa’s Grotto, a German bier keller, numberous gift and snack stalls and an entertainment area.

For more see - www.galwaychristmasmarket.ie

Fields of Athenry 10km

26th December 2011

The 9th running of the Fields of Athenry 10km will take place on St. Stephen's day, December 26th at 11am. Over the last number of years this has has become of of the leading road races in the country, and this year it aims to raise the bar higher. The race returns to its now traditional route, finishing under the medival arch in Athenry.

November

Galway Jazz Festival:

The aim of this festival is to foster Jazz as a contemporary art form in the west of Ireland. This festival features a range of Jazz music in a broad range of venues across the city.
See:www.galwayjazzfestival.com

Spirit of Voice Festival:

This festival is a celebration of of song and spoken word.
See:www.spiritofvoice.com

October

Great Irish Beer Festival:

A festival of beer appreciation, for lovers of barley.

Baboró International Arts Festival for Children

Baboró was originally conceived and nurtured under the auspices of Galway Arts Festival and first presented a Baboró programme in 1994. By 1997, to address the needs of children who may not usually be included in cultural events, it was decided to create a festival independent of Galway Arts Festival, offering a fully formed multi-arts programme to schools during the month of October in Galway and surrounding areas.
See:www.baboro.ie/

Galway Race meeting

October Bank Holiday Weekend - October 25th and October 26th. Two great days of horse racing and fun.
See:www.galwayraces.com/

Open House Festival

"The inaugural Open House Galway programme was launched along with details of the city's first architectural festival. The event, in partnership with the Irish Architecture Foundation, takes place from October 16 to 18. By selecting some of the city's best examples of quality design, Open House aims to enthuse and engage the public in the built environment. Guided tours will be provided by the architect of each participating building." Excerpt from Galway Advertiser
See:http://openhousegalway.ie/

Galway Comedy Festival

The Festival will entertain you to some of the most magical, hysterical and outright funny folk on the planet, all for your enjoyment.
See:http://www.galwaycomedyfestival.com/

Galway Aboo! Halloween Festival

Galway is transformed into Ghoulway when the city's Latin Quarter comes alive with free wicked entertainment for the Galway Abooo Halloween Festival.

September

Clarenbridge Oyster Festival:

No where else on earth can match the perfect conditions that exist in Clarenbridge for growing and harvesting Oysters, which is why the Clarenbridge Oyster festival has been so popular since it's beginnings in 1954. The festival is full of food, music, dancing and family fun.
See: www.clarenbridge.com

Galway Oyster Festival:

This festival to celebrate the beginning of the Oyster season was created in 1953 by local hotelier Brian Collins as a way of extending the Galway festival season into September, filling his hotel and bringing business to the region. 56 years later, the festival is still going strong.
See:www.galwayoysterfest.com

Arthur's Day

Arthur's Day refers to a series of music events which were first organised in 2009 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Guinness brewing company.
See: www.guinness.com/en-ie/arthursday/index.html

August

Crinniu na mBad Festival:

Up to 100 unique Irish boats, the Galway Hookers, gather every August for a weekend of racing and celebration at Cruinniú na mBád (Gathering of the Boats) festival in Kinvara. Since its revival in 1979, the festival has become one of the most unique and successful weekend festivals in Ireland.
See:www.kinvara.com

Umbro Galway Cup Tournament

Salthill Devon took it upon themselves to take the first step to develop international football in the South of Ireland; creating and developing the Umbro Galway Cup, which takes place in their modern state-of-the-art facility at Drom Soccer Park.

Now in its fifth year, the Umbro Galway Cup continues to grow and prosper. The competition has been broadcast on national television [Setanta Sports, RTÉ], and has attracted teams from the UK, the US, Canada, the South East, Eastern Europe, as well as a strong representation of Irish clubs. League of Ireland outfits such as Shelbourne, Derry City, and Bohs have attended in the past, and have competed against UK academies like Ipswich Town, Glasgow Celtic, Aberdeen, Leeds Utd, Newcastle Utd, Fulham, and Leicester City.

The Umbro Galway Cup targets the Boys Under 15 age group each year as the Elite cup - a competition dedicated solely to professional clubs and established academies. In 2005, the Football Association of Ireland walked away victorious, while it has been our friends from the UK who have claimed the title in the past three years - Aberdeen in 2006, and Ipswich Town, under the guidance of Sammy Morgan, in 2007. 2008 saw a strong Leicester City outfit emerge victorious from what was the strongest Elite group to date.
See: www.galwaycup.com/index.asp

July

Galway Arts Festival

Regarded as one of Europe's key cultural events, Galway Arts Festival is an international celebration of the performing and visual arts. Each year over 100,000 people attend the Galway Arts Festival, with hundreds of writers, artists, performers and musicians creating theatre, spectacle, street art, music, comedy, literature and music to produce a stunning fortnight of cultural activity and celebration.
See: www.galwayartsfestival.com

The Galway Film Fleadh (July 6th - 11th)

Ireland's leading film festival, is a six day international film event held every July and welcomes a mad diversity of filmmaking from around the world. The Fleadh is very much a film lovers' festival, and attracts directors, actors, cinematographers and artists.
See: www.galwayfilmfleadh.com

Galway Races

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 Racecourse is the place to be.
See: www.galwayraces.com

June

Galway Regatta

Galway's oldest rowing regatta takes place every June at NUIG Sports Grounds in Dangan just across from the Westwood Hotel. Celebrating 126 years, the Galway Regatta has always boasted the best of rowing in the city, in addition to attracting top rowers from the rest of Ireland. Galway enjoys a top position in Irish rowing due to the efforts of NUIG, Tribesmen, Galway, the Bish, and the Jes.

This popular annual regatta is hosted by the Galway Rowing Club. Traditionally one of the most colourful sporting events in the city since its inauguration in 1884 in the grounds of Menlo Castle, the regatta has its origins in rowing matches which took place between the Corrib Rowing and Yachting Club (founded 1864), and the Commercial Boat Club (founded 1875). These races became the Galway Regatta, and rowing on the Corrib reached its peak in 1929, when the Emmets won the IARU senior eights, a feat they repeated in 1931.

Spectators can view the racing from the NUIG grounds at Dangan

Galway Sessions

Festival of Celtic Music and the Arts.
See:www.galwaysessions.com

Womens Mini Marathon Galway

The Galway Women's Mini Marathon is now in it's second year of existance. The inaugural run took place on Sunday 28th June 2009, as part of Galway Simon Community's 30 Anniversary Celebrations. Over 360 ladies took part and the event raised vital funds for the Charity's homeless services throughout the city.

After the success of the first event, the organisers want to ensure that this event becomes a cornerstone in the West's athletic calendar.
See: www.womensminimarathongalway.ie

May

The Galway Early Music Festival

This festival runs annually in May and features concerts by top international performers, workshops, schools events and music and theatre in the Galway City Museum and in the street. The Festival has a unique, relaxed and friendly atmosphere and highlights the medieval town of Galway and the artistic and cultural richness of the area.

See:www.galwayearlymusic.com/festival.html

Planning a Party? We Cater for Free! YES, book your upcoming evening party with The Westwood and we will provide you with a private / semi-private room in which to celebrate and provide free finger food platters for the group. Read more...