Galway is bursting with exciting events every month! To help you make the most of what’s happening, we’ve put together a must-read guide featuring the top 15 events you won’t want to miss this month. From festivals to live entertainment, there’s something for everyone - so dive in and start planning your next great experience in Galway!
Please note; Below is just a snippet of everything Galway has to offer event-wise in the month ahead. If you would like a full and inclusive look at everything Galway has going on, please check out our website at; https://thisisgalway.ie/events/.
Festival: Féile John Ford
When: September 5-7th
Where: An Spidéal
More information here
This September, An Spidéal is paying tribute to and celebrating one of Hollywood’s most influential directors with a major cultural event. Féile John Ford, taking place from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th, celebrates the life, work, and Connemara roots of John Ford, the record holding six-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker behind classics such as The Quiet Man, The Grapes of Wrath, The Searchers, and Stagecoach. Though revered worldwide as a cinematic master, John Ford’s deep connections to the West of Ireland remain surprisingly underappreciated. Programme highlights include: film screenings in Scoil Éinne, exhibitions in Stiúideo Cuan with rare unseen photographs, heritage displays, and original artifacts from Ford’s Irish films, talks and conversations, and storytelling workshops in Irish for school children to inspire future filmmakers. The festival will also explore the creative thread that connects Ford’s legacy to the thriving film and TV industry along Cois Fharraige in the South Connemara Gaeltacht region today. For more information please visit the above link.
Festival: Misleór Festival of Nomadic Cultures
When: September 25-28th
Where: Galway City
More information here
Europe’s only festival of nomadic cultures, returns to Galway City this September, followed by a special programme at the iconic Ballinasloe Horse Fair. Now in its seventh year, the festival shines a light on the traditions, art, and activism of Irish Travellers and nomadic communities from across Europe and beyond. The 2025 theme, “Tending the Flame: On the Road to Justice and Reparation”, focuses on identity, resistance, memory, and the collective journey toward equity and recognition. Highlights include the Cherra Session, the Misleór Whidden , and appearances by artists and activists from Roma, Inuit, Scottish Traveller, and Sámi communities. Misleór also features music, family-friendly workshops, live storytelling, and cutting-edge virtual reality experiences created by and for nomadic people. Led by the Galway Traveller Movement and supported by the Arts Council, Misleór is a celebration of creative resistance and cultural pride. Whether you're attending a live gig, watching powerful films, or learning about traditional crafts, Misleór invites you to be part of a festival that centres nomadic voices and builds solidarity across borders. For more on the festival check out this article.
Market: Clarinbridge Market Day
When: September 6th, from 12pm
Where: The Village Green in Clarinbridge
More information here
Get ready for one of County Galway’s most anticipated community events; the 33rd Annual Clarinbridge Market Day. This vibrant day out is a celebration of Irish culture, heritage, and community spirit, offering something for everyone. The Clarinbridge Market Day promises a dynamic mix of live entertainment, family activities, local food, and artisan crafts, all set in the heart of one of Ireland’s most charming coastal villages. A key element of this community-driven market day is also about giving back. With proceeds from the day help fund local charities and organisations, making your visit a meaningful contribution to the Clarinbridge community. Highlights from the day will include: live traditional Irish music and dancing, the local “Food Street”, Irish craft and produce market, demonstrations of traditional skills, a petting Farm and kids’ activities as well as Vintage Displays with classic tractors, vintage cars, and boats lining the main street.
Festival: Climate Inspirations Festival
When: September 10-14th
Where: Galway City
More information here
Galway City is set to become a beacon of climate hope and innovation this September, as the Galway Climate Inspirations Festival returns for its second year, transforming the city into a vibrant hub of ideas, action, and artistry. The festival invites attendees from all walks of life to explore bold solutions and inspiring stories from the cutting edge of climate action. With a blend of music, talks, storytelling, play and sustainability, the event promises to be a celebration of courage and creativity in a time of change. Highlights include the Féasta at St. Nicholas’s Church - an unforgettable night of delicious local food guided by chefs Enda McEvoy and Richard Kitt. The Climate Carnival - Taking place in Fr. Burke Park with Galway Volunteer Centre, the Climate Carnival will be home to talks, music, food, games and entertainment for all the family! Playful Streets - As Middle Street is transformed into a vibrant, family-friendly zone with a second-hand market, and lots of music and play. Giob Geab - a quick fire community story telling night with MC Shani, and so so much more. Many of the events are free and registration is available through the above link.
Festival: Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival
When: September 26-28th
Where: Galway City
More information here
Foodies from every corner of the world descend on Galway city to immerse in the action-packed three day Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival. The festival kicks off on the evening of Friday 26th with music, talks and dancing. Across the weekend events will take place citywide and all attending will delight at the array of community-focused activities in this year’s programme. With tons of free family events, live music, cooking demonstrations, environmental talks and children’s workshops, there’s something for all ages to enjoy at this year’s festival.
Festival: Féile Cheoil Larry Reynolds
When: September 4-7th
Where: Ballinasloe
More information here
Ballinasloe is set to come alive with the vibrant rhythm of the Féile Cheoil Larry Reynolds, a four‑day celebration of traditional Irish music, culture, and community spirit. Founded in 2014 to honour the musical legacy of local fiddle hero Larry Reynolds, the festival has grown into a highlight of Ireland’s trad‑music calendar. Larry Reynolds brought the region’s melodic style to Boston, and this féile is the only Irish festival dedicated to preserving its unique tradition. Over the course of the festival, more than 60 live sessions will take place throughout streets, pubs, and community halls of Ballinasloe, all buzzing with the sounds of fiddle, flute, accordion, song, and sean‑nós dance. This year’s packed programme features everything from workshops in fiddle, bodhrán, set dancing and more, to U18 All-Ireland competitions, busking, heritage walks, and a céilí with the Uí Bhriain Céilí Band. Musical highlights include a CD launch from Máirín Fahy & Patsy Broderick, and a concert by Gerry Hanley & Carl Hession, while broadcaster Claire Keville will host a special tribute to the musical legacy of Jack & Charlie Coen. Festival-goers can also enjoy the Interactive Crafters Village, the Larry Reynolds exhibition, and youth events featuring local schools and community groups.
Family: XVAcademy’s Soccer Sessions
When: weekly sessions (see link for more information)
Where: Unit 1 Ballybane Beg, Ballybane Industrial Estate
More information here
Now that the school year has begun, why not sign your soccer loving son or daughter up to XVAcademy's small group, high intensity, individual player development weekly sessions? Open to players aged 3yrs old to 19yrs, these weekly sessions are hosted by their team of professional coaches at their UEFA standard indoor astro facility in Ballybane. Whether they are looking to start their football journey, trying to break into the Galway United U14s team or simply just love football - XVAcademy is the place for them. Avail of your free trial - email them on info@xvacademy.ie or drop them a DM @xvacademy.ie.
Festival: Culture Night
When: September 19th, from 6pm
Where: Countywide
More information here
The twentieth Culture Night takes place on September 19th, celebrating Galway city and county’s rich artistic and cultural life. Supported by the Arts Council and managed by Galway City Council Arts Office, the programme features late night events across all artforms, with a focus on inclusion, creativity, and community. Expect music, theatre, visual art, workshops, and immersive performances citywide. With so much to experience, Culture Night 2025 promises to be a thrilling celebration of creativity, diversity, and the power of shared public space. For a snapshot of the lineup for this year’s Culture Night please see the above link, to see the programme as it updates click here.
above: photo by Anita Murphy from Culture Night 2024
Fundraiser: Ireland West Airport and Portwest Runway Fun Run
When: September 13th, at 6pm
Where: The runway at Ireland West Airport
More information here
Ireland West Airport in partnership with Portwest, are hosting the 8th annual charity 5k Runway Family Fun Run on their runway at 6pm on Saturday the 13th. This is a unique opportunity to run or walk on the famous runway at Ireland West Airport. All are welcome to attend with all proceeds from the event going to Ireland West Airport’s charity partners for 2025, Connacht SBHI Branch (Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland), Dillon Quirke Foundation, Mayo Roscommon Hospice, Order of Malta (Knock Branch), The National Breast Cancer Research Institute and Western Alzheimer's. All participants on the day who register by 2pm on Friday, 12th September 2025, will receive a free commemorative runway run t-shirt, which can be collected at the airport on the day of the event or on a pre-arranged date leading up to the event, which will be advised closer to the event time. A ‘virtual option’ will also be available for those who wish to support the charities but are unable to attend on the day and would like to participate in a virtual run or walk.
Festival: Clifden Arts Festival
When: September 17-28th
Where: Clifden
More information here
The longest-running community arts festival in Ireland, Clifden Community Arts Festival, now heading into its 48th year, is taking place this September and yet again promises to have something to excite everyone in this year’s programme. Festival-goers will enjoy a very high quality artistic programme with a superb literary, musical and visual art content which again will have the community arts of Clifden and the surrounding hinterland as a central focus with creative writing, music, theatre, graphic design and film workshops and performances taking place in the local schools for the duration of the festival. Highlights from this year’s festival include sean-nos dancing, music from The Henry Girls, Mike Denver and the Irish Chamber Orchestra, historical walking tours, Donal Ryan in conversation with Paula Shields, festival bus tours, The making of an Irish icon: Barry’s Tea, Clifden’s writer’s group, book launches, coffee mornings and so much more.
Theatre/Storytelling: The Spanking Goddess and other Discard Tales
When: September 17th, at 8pm
Where: The Mick Lally Theatre
More information here
This September, come along for a romp through the untold myths of the Celts with astounding Irish storyteller, Clare Murphy. These are not your regular myths. Expect wicked tales of badass deities, feral fighters, unorthodox sex, hairy bodies, mastery, and goddess-on-goddess battles. Experience Clare effortlessly exhume the Celtic canon and bring the wild women who never made the cut, into the light. Not for the faint-hearted. Definitely for grown-ups, not suitable for children.
Family: The Adventures of Shay Mouse
When: September 14th, at 3pm
Where: Town Hall Theatre
More information here
Based on one of the warmest and lively children’s books to be published in Ireland (Pat McCabe’s The Mouse from Longford), this new adaptation and inventive production with songs and delightful regional accents is a treat for young audiences. Adapted for stage and performed by Padraic McIntyre & Shane Carroll, this show tells the story of Shay Mouse who lived peacefully in Bornacoola Wood until an evil band of rats took it over and Shay is forced to leave in disgrace. He travels across the midlands where in a series of wonderful adventures he meets new friends and enemies. He eventually ends up in Dublin where he befriends Jack Russell, but will they be able to rescue all his friends from Pat The Rat and his evil band back in Bornacoola Wood?
Workshop: Sustainable Living Skills Weekend
When: September 27th + 28th, from 9.45am
Where: Brigit’s Garden
More information here
Join Brigit’s Garden for a creative, inspiring and practical weekend of skills and information to help us all live more sustainably. Choose between traditional skills workshops with excellent tutors and avail of free talks. Lunch is included in full-day workshops and can be booked separately for half-day workshops. It will comprise a hearty soup, homemade brown bread, a selection of autumn salads, and tea/coffee with chocolate truffles or cookies. Numbers are limited so early booking for workshops is advised. Read more about each course at the link above and to register. No advance booking is required for the free sessions.
Comedy: Anna Clifford: Work in Progress
When: September 17th, at 7pm
Where: The Kings Head
More information here
After the success of her debut hour ‘I SEE DEADLY PEOPLE’ (now on YouTube), Anna’s back with a new show ‘Soapstar’ and she needs your help separating the good from the god-awful. Some stuff will blow your socks off, and some will bomb like Jägers in her early 20s. One thing’s for sure: you’ll have the craic. Anna was born on the 7th of the 7th, and her Da swore it would guarantee her a life of luck. Now at 35 after seven heartbreaks (four real, three delulu), seven tattoos (meaningless), and seven trips back home, she’s starting to wonder if her biggest break was landing a role on Ireland’s biggest soap at 17. This is a show about luck, life, and what it means to have a lucky life - where you can’t change the channel, because that’s life (live stand-up). Sorry.
Dance Performance: Change
When: September 23rd, at 8pm
Where: Town Hall Theatre
More information here
Croí Glan Integrated Dance Company brings Change to Galway’s Town Hall Theatre. A hope-filled reimagining of the world with diverse bodies from diverse lands, including Yves Lorrhan (Brazil), Andrea Williams (Cape Verde), Rocio Domenguez (Argentina) , Rachel Paul (France), and Bobbi Byrne (Ireland/Spain). A celebration of interconnectedness, Change brings us back to the things that we thought we’d lost. This is an invocation, we are weaving a call to climate action. The clock is ticking. Are you on board for change? Made in collaboration with scientists from the Environmental Research Institute at UCC, and inspired by Rebecca Solnit’s Not Too Late, Change explores hope in the face of adversity. Building resilience through connection, diversity and community, the dance reveals personal experiences and feelings precipitated by these unprecedented times. Post-show, a discussion will take place with Galway University Climate Scientist Michelle Palmer.
Main image from Culture Night 2024 by Anita Murphy
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