Experience the best events in Galway - completely free! Explore This is Galway's Ultimate Budget-Friendly Events Guide and never miss out on top happenings without spending a cent.
Please note: This article will be updated as events take place meaning that this article can be your go-to no matter the day of week or time of year. For Galway’s full events calendar, visit thisisgalway.ie.
Wellness: Dips for Health
When: February 6th, at 12.30pm
Where: Ladies Beach
More information here
Are you looking to boost your mood, meet new people, and feel more connected? Connect with yourself and others and join Dips for Health for a free sociable sea dip between 12.30pm and 1.30pm. No pressure, just connection, community, and the sea. Everyone is welcome, whether you’re new to sea dipping or a regular by the shore.
Workshop: Source to Sea - Reimagining our Relationship with Water
When: February 7th, at 2pm
Where: Galway City Museum
More information here
Galway City Museum in collaboration with Our Story bring you ‘Source to Sea: Reimagining our Relationship with Water’, one of a series of free workshops offered at the Museum over the next couple of months. This is an invitation to transform climate anxiety into a joyful and healing reconnection with nature, inspiring action as we co-create a sustainable future for people and the planet. This experiential workshop invites participants to explore their personal and collective relationships with water—rivers, lakes, streams, and oceans—by mapping memories, emotions, and observed changes of the watersheds they belong to. They will reconnect with water’s importance through storytelling, deepening their understanding of the interdependence between humans and water and reflecting on environmental change. Through creative expression and scientific inquiry, participants will explore how our lives, our bodies and our communities are connected to the watersheds and bodies of water that we live with and that move through us. When we restore the Earth’s waters, we restore life.
Launch: 'Cornerstone' - Graduate Exhibition Launch
When: February 13th, at 6pm
Where: Outset Gallery
More information here
Outset Gallery is pleased to present Cornerstone, the first exhibition of their 2026 programme, opening on Friday 13th February, 6-9pm. Cornerstone showcases the work of eight graduates selected through Outset Gallery’s 2025 Graduate Open Call, representing leading art colleges across Ireland. Working across painting, sculpture, video, film, and photography, the exhibition highlights the breadth of talent and ambition emerging from recent graduating classes. The works on display explore themes including Irish history and storytelling, evolving relationships with technology, and experimental approaches to contemporary art practice. The title Cornerstone reflects both the foundational nature of this moment in each artist’s career and the idea of turning toward new beginnings and future possibilities. For more on this exhibition please see the above link.
Family Workshop: Our Heritage in LEGO
When: February 14th, at 11.30am
Where: Galway City Museum
More information here
Join brick artist Jessica Farrell for a heritage-themed LEGO® family workshop at Galway City Museum. This workshop is specially designed for families with neurodivergent children aged 7 and over. It offers a relaxed, collaborative, and creative learning experience that uses LEGO® bricks to build and create together. Each family group (or ‘team’) may include up to four people, with a minimum of one adult and one child. This format supports the workshop’s core aim: to encourage shared creativity, communication, and learning through cooperative play. To remain mindful of sensory needs, including noise levels, attendance is limited to a maximum of 20 participants (5 tables of 4). Families will take part in two LEGO® building activities. These guided exercises promote imagination, building skills, and communication, while allowing families to experience the enjoyment and satisfaction of creating together. Registered and identifiable assistance dogs are welcome. All LEGO® bricks and materials are provided.
Family Workshop: Our Heritage in LEGO
When: February 14th, at 1.30pm
Where: Galway City Museum
More information here
Join brick artist Jessica Farrell for a heritage-themed LEGO® family workshop at Galway City Museum. Designed for families with children aged 7 and 13, this lively and collaborative workshop offers a creative introduction to Irish natural, cultural, and built heritage. Through guided activities, participants are encouraged to explore heritage themes while developing imagination, communication, and teamwork. Each family group (or ‘team’) may include up to four people, with a minimum of one adult and one child. This structure reflects the workshop’s core aim: to promote shared creativity and learning through building together. All LEGO® bricks and materials are provided.
Lecture: Decarbonisation – the Challenge of a Just Transition
When: February 19th, at 1pm
Where: Galway City Museum
More information here
The University of Galway’s School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies will hold their lunchtime lecture series every Thursday in the Education Room at Galway City Museum from 1pm until 1.50pm. There is no booking required for these lectures but please note seating is limited so early arrival advised. This Thursday we have ‘Decarbonisation – the Challenge of a Just Transition’ with Professor Cathal O’Donoghue.
Music: Canned Pineapple
When: February 19th, from 11.59pm
Where: Róisín Dubh
More information here
Canned Pineapple is a 5-piece scuzz-pop and slacker rock group based in Brighton. The quintet consists of the songwriting partnership of Seán Drury and Oakley Gardiner alongside multi-instrumentalist and recording engineer Jude Allenby, guitarchitect visionary Gabe Rice and master of the rhythm stick Charlie Pringle. A band of brothers waggin out. Canned Pineapple is the result of interplanetary telekinesis between the great beyond and the great norm. Having released their self-titled debut EP online and on vinyl, via Goo Records, the awesome fivesome have toured across the UK and Ireland in their Nissan Micra, conquering some of England and Irelands most important grassroots venues. Including tireless performances at The Edge of the Sea Festival at Concorde 2 in Brighton supporting The Wedding Present and Cyprus Avenue in Cork supporting The Love Buzz, the band continue to energise audiences worldwide and supplant todays music scene.
Music: Rated R - A Tribute to Queens of the Stone Age
When: February 21st, from 9pm
Where: Sally Longs
More information here
Ireland’s ONLY QOTSA tribute band - Rated R bring the high desert valley to you, playing all the feel good hits of the summer, with the same attitude and swagger of Queens. The band draw on every album from Mexicola, to Lost Art of Keeping a Secret to Go With the Flow and even some Kyuss! Any fans of the band are guaranteed to have their QOTSA thirst satiated as Rated R deliver the ultimate homage to Homme! Get ready for a night of QOTSA madness.
Music: The Galway Ukers
When: February 22nd, at 8pm
Where: Róisín Dubh
More information here
The Galway Ukers have lit up the streets of Galway and filled screens with their feel good chaos, they now bring that same spark to the Róisín Dubh with a high energy show built for singing, laughing and getting properly stuck in. With The Dogz Bol Ukes on support. Opening Galway’s premier ukulele festival, GalwayUkeFest.com, they tore through everything from Bronski Beat to The Beatles. Born from the phenomenally successful Galway Ukulele Group meetups the Ukers are the performance wing of a community that has been making music together for nearly a decade. This 12 piece powerhouse has carried their blend of harmonies, humour and high energy ukulele to stages across Ireland, including festival slots at Electric Picnic and gigs alongside legends like The Waterboys. With millions of feel good vibes and more than a few million views, The Galway Ukers have become the joyous heartbeat of a movement that keeps growing across Ireland.
Lecture: solar observations at Brú na Bóinne: passage tomb alignment, art and architecture
When: February 26th, at 1pm
Where: Galway City Museum
More information here
The University of Galway’s School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies will hold their lunchtime lecture series every Thursday in the Education Room at Galway City Museum from 1pm until 1.50pm. There is no booking required for these lectures but please note seating is limited so early arrival advised. This Thursday we have ‘solar observations at Brú na Bóinne: passage tomb alignment, art and architecture’ with Joe Fenwick.
Music: MDR
When: February 26th, at 11.59pm
Where: Róisín Dubh
More information here
MDR is an indie band from Cork, Ireland, formed by a group of five students at University College Cork (UCC). They are known for their distinctive sound, which blends guitar-driven indie and alternative rock, exploring themes of isolation, vulnerability, and belonging in their music. Their debut single, “Sleeptalk,” showcases their unique style and has already gained attention in the Irish indie scene. The band’s music aims to connect with listeners through emotional honesty and dynamic arrangements, reflecting their shared experiences and friendship.
Workshop: Repair Café
When: February 28th, at 1pm
Where: Galway City Museum
More information here
Need some help with clothing repairs? Come to the Repair Cafe on Saturday the 28th of February and their skilled volunteers will be on hand to help you mend. At the Repair Cafe you can pick up new skills, swap tips, and meet others in a relaxed environment. Repair Cafes are volunteer‑led and community‑centred, the aim is to build resilience by keeping items in use and skill sharing. Whether you’d like a hand with a repair or simply want to sit and stitch, you are welcome to join us. The event is free of charge but there are limited spaces available, so booking is essential.
Shop: Galway Indoor Market
When: February 28th, March 21st, April 25th, May 23rd, June 20th, from 11am
Where: Cornstore
More information here
Outset Design welcomes you back to the Cornstore this Spring / Summer for a diverse range of stalls that showcase the best of Vintage, Retro, Secondhand & Hand Made from Independent Businesses and Creative Individuals from Galway & beyond with live music from local musicians. Expect to discover new and retro vinyl, clothing, jewellery, furniture, crafts, originals art & botany. This is the perfect opportunity to select handcrafted & unique pieces from independent creatives, ideal for gifting loved ones too.
Illustrated Talk: Old Galway in Photographs
When: March 3rd, at 10.45am
Where: Westside Resource Centre
More information here
As part of its outreach programme, Galway City Museum has curated a special series of educational talks and events to be held at Westside Resource Centre, Seamus Quirke Road, during the darker months from November 2025 and March 2026. Developed in response to the interests of the local community, the programme spans a wide range of engaging topics – from folklore to built heritage and natural disasters. The story of photography began in 1839, and by the 1870s this new medium had reached Galway. From that point on, the town and county were captured through the lens, offering a fascinating a window into late-Victorian life in the West. Join Prof. John Breslin, avid collector of historical photographs and curator of the acclaimed Old Ireland in Colour book series, as he presents a rich selection of Galway images from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries from his and other collections. These events are free of charge, and all are welcome, but please book in advance by contacting Westside Resource Centre at (091) 528325.
Literature: Mary Costello in Conversation with Sarah Kenny
When: March 3rd, at 6pm
Where: Kennys Bookshop
More information here
Bestselling Irish author Mary Costello will be at Kennys Bookshop, joining Sarah Kenny in conversation about her new book A Beautiful Loan. A Beautiful Loan tells the story of a 1985 Dublin, where nineteen-year-old Anna Hughes is in thrall to Peter Gallagher, an older, worldly man. Anna is new to the city, introverted and naïve, and Peter’s experience, wide circle of friends and thirst for adventure captivate her. Her obsessive longing for him leads to marriage and, eventually, a crushing betrayal. As Anna’s life becomes less predictable, she uncovers deeper layers of herself. Her journey gives an intimate portrait of a woman embracing herself as she is, and claiming the life she yearns for. Signed copies will be available on the night.
Literature: Bressie in Conversation with Edel Coffey
When: March 5th, at 6pm
Where: Kennys Bookshop
More information here
Musician, broadcaster and award-winning writer Niall Breslin, ‘Bressie’, will be at Kennys Bookshop on March 5th, joining Edel Coffey for an evening of music and conversation celebrating his new book, The Place That Has Never Been Wounded. All are welcome to this very special in conversation event – drinks will be served on arrival and Bressie will also be playing a couple of songs! Tickets for this event are free but are limited, and you can book at the link above.
Workshop: Reimagining Waste in a Circular Economy
When: March 7th, at 10am
Where: Galway City Museum
More information here
Galway City Museum in collaboration with Our Story bring you ‘Reimagining Waste for a Circular Economy’, one of a series of free workshops offered at the Museum over the next couple of months. This is an invitation to transform climate anxiety into a joyful and healing reconnection with nature, inspiring action as we co-create a sustainable future for people and the planet. Overview: In a world dominated by a linear “take, make, dispose” model, waste is often seen as the end of a product’s life. This workshop challenges that idea by reimagining waste as a beginning. Participants are introduced to the principles of the circular economy through hands-on upcycling, helping them understand how waste can be transformed into valuable resources. Participants will learn about key circular strategies like reuse, repair, and upcycling; reflect on their own habits of disposal and value; and then transform discarded objects into something functional or meaningful. Participants will leave with a new object, a new mindset, and a commitment to change their relationship with waste.
Music: Martina and The Moons
When: March 12th, at 11.59pm
Where: Róisín Dubh
More information here
Martina and the Moons is an all-female four-piece band based in Dublin. Recently signed to Rubarb Music (Ruadhri Cushnan, Camden Studios), they have supported the UK band Porridge Radio in Whelans Mainroom, as well as Thumper’ in a sold-out Workmans Mainroom. In addition, they played Mainstage at Whelan’s Ones to Watch in January, and they have been named by Hotpress Magazine as one of the Hot For ’25 acts. The band consists of Martina Moon (vocals, songwriting), Sarah Morgan (guitar), Ruby Levins (bass), and Zahira Ellis (drums). Their influences vary from the singer songwriters of the 60s and 70s such as Paul Simon or Carole King, to the BritPop and rock bands of the 90s, such as Elastica, Catatonia, Blur. With lyrics about alienation and yearning for connection, they have been described by Strephen Byrne (Golden Plec) as ‘the latest example of Irish ladies delivering the goods’.
Music: The Galway Ukers
When: March 25th, at 8pm
Where: Róisín Dubh
More information here
The Galway Ukers have lit up the streets of Galway and filled screens with their feel good chaos, they now bring that same spark to the Róisín Dubh with a high energy show built for singing, laughing and getting properly stuck in. With The Dogz Bol Ukes on support. Opening Galway’s premier ukulele festival, GalwayUkeFest.com, they tore through everything from Bronski Beat to The Beatles. Born from the phenomenally successful Galway Ukulele Group meetups the Ukers are the performance wing of a community that has been making music together for nearly a decade. This 12 piece powerhouse has carried their blend of harmonies, humour and high energy ukulele to stages across Ireland, including festival slots at Electric Picnic and gigs alongside legends like The Waterboys. With millions of feel good vibes and more than a few million views, The Galway Ukers have become the joyous heartbeat of a movement that keeps growing across Ireland.
Literature: Patrick Radden Keefe in Conversation with Tomás Kenny - NOW SOLD OUT
When: May 4th, at 6pm
Where: Kennys Bookshop
More information here
Acclaimed writer Patrick Radden Keefe will be at Kennys Bookshop on May 4th, joining Tomás Kenny in conversation about his new book London Falling. About London Falling: In 2019, teenager Zac Brettler mysteriously fell to his death from a luxury apartment balcony into the Thames. As his grieving parents began to investigate his final days, they were shocked to learn that he’d been leading a double life, in which he was posing as the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch. This unsolved case is at the heart of London Falling – at once a family tragedy, a psychological portrait of a young fabulist, and an indictment of the greed for extreme wealth that has transformed one of the world’s great cities: London. Hiding in the shadows of its great architecture and imperial history are the malignant, mercenary forces that have come to influence us all – whether we realise it or not.
Music: Croíthe
When: May 19th, at 11.59pm
Where: Róisín Dubh
More information here
Strange Brew presents Croíthe and special guests for a fun and fabulous midnight show at Róisín Dubh. Croíthe (KREE‑HA) are a Dublin-based post-punk/shoegaze band making waves with their dark, emotive sound. Their debut EP, A Brief Respite, hit #1 on Ireland’s Best-Selling Charts and #11 on the Independent Charts, earning praise from BBC Radio 6’s Steve Lamacq. After a busy 2025 touring the UK and Europe, 2026 promises to be a big year, with headline shows and further touring cementing their status as one of Dublin’s most exciting new acts.
Feature photo by Chaosheng Zhang
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