Attend all the best events in Galway at no cost to your pocket.. get ready for the This is Galway ultimate budget-friendly Galway Events Guide.
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.
OXO 2023 LAUNCH NIGHT
OXO will act as Ireland’s largest Christmas exhibition of 2023 and will run between December 1st-23rd at Outset Gallery, providing a platform for artists based locally, nationally & internationally to exhibit their artwork in Galway City, the cultural capital of the West. Last year, OXO 2022 featured 110 works from 80 artists with this year surpassing this figure and featuring 135 original artworks from over 125 artists representing a richly diverse range of artists across multiple disciplines. All works are available to purchase and this is the perfect opportunity for collectors or enthusiasts to secure a unique, one of kind art piece. The free launch event will include complementary refreshments for guests and music from resident DJ Mitch Presents. Entry can only be made via cross street entrance – registration is essential.
December 1st, from 6.30pm / Outset Gallery / get your free ticket here
BEETHOVEN UNVEILED: A GUIDED LISTENING EXPERIENCE
Galway Music Residency, in partnership with the Discipline of Music at University of Galway and Westside Library, is delighted to announce a new pilot event to deepen the listening experience of Galway audiences. Beethoven Unveiled: A guided listening experience will take a closer listen to the music of, and inspired by, Beethoven. Mesmerising performances by ConTempo Quartet of this master composer’s work will be interspersed with insights from Dr Aidan Thomson, director of the BA in Music. Learn about how this great composer approached his compositions, how they are structured and the context in which they were written. Dr Thomson will also be joined in conversation by Galway composer Jane O’Leary to delve into her Beethoven-inspired work The Passing Sound of Forever. Enjoy the opportunity to hear a living composer break down her composition and the source of her inspiration.
December 2nd, from 4pm / Westside Library / get your free ticket here
LOCAL FOOD & CRAFT GIFT FAIR
Since 2012, the LOCAL Craft and Food Gift Fair has grown in popularity and reputation – featuring some of the best local craftspeople and artisan food producers. More than 50 local craftspeople specialising in artisan food, drinks, art, jewellery and more will converge on the Black Box Theatre Galway City for this year's event. This two-day fair is great opportunity to find unique gifts before Christmas, along with a wide range of artisan jams, jellies, chutneys, cakes, cheeses, vegan foods, juices, and craft brews. Beautiful creations of local craft experts will be on show ranging from handmade ceramics, leather work, wooden carvings, household decorations, gifts, jewellery and more.
December 2nd & 3rd / Black Box Theatre / more here
XMAS WINE & BEER FAIR
You are all invited along to the Xmas Wine & Beer Fair with Brian’s Wines, Vinostito, Anke Hartmann (Court of Master Sommeliers), Land & Labour and Grand Cru Beers at The Universal. This event takes place will give guests the chance to taste some of the finest juices ever bottled!
December 3rd, from 2pm / The Universal / more here
TALK & DEMOSTRATION: FROM SHEEP TO SHAWL - TRADITIONAL WOOLCRAFT IN THE WEST OF IRELAND
As part of its outreach programme, Galway City Museum has curated a series of educational events, which will take place at Westside Resource Centre. Join weaver Seamus Kirwan as he guides you through a living history of wool fibre and its uses, keeping alive the ancient crafts of wool spinning and handweaving. Come along and try your hand at it, you’ll really enjoy this hands-on experience.
December 5th, from 11am / Westside Resource Centre / get your free ticket here
Photo courtesy of Seamus Kirwan
CHRISTMAS GLAM
Join The Skeff for a Live Makeup Demo at Grace’s Drinking Club, hosted by MAC. Makeup Artist, Caroline Conroy will talk you through a ‘Desk to Disco’ look, perfect for all your Christmas outings! Not only is there free entry but you will also be treated to a cocktail upon arrival and delicious light bites… and since it’s Christmas, there will be MAC goodie bags for everyone in the audience! A glam evening not to be missed.
December 5th, from 7.30pm / Grace's Cocktail Bar at The Skeff / get your free ticket here
3 KINDS OF MUSIC WITH GALWAY MUSIC RESIDENCY
Galway Music Residency’s popular multi-genre series ‘3 Kinds of Music’ returns to The Mick Lally Theatre. On Saturday 11 November, Anne-Marie has crafted a varied programme, which includes a triple bill of classical, jazz, blues and traditional music and is an exploration of the ‘duo’. Three pairs will grace the stage including violinists Ingrid Nicola and Bogdan Sofei of Galway’s ensemble-in-residence ConTempo Quartet, Irish traditional mother and daughter Harp duo Kathleen Loughnane and Catriona Cannon, Maria Walsh of Zrazy with local guest artist and Blues duo Grainne Duffy with her husband Paul Sherry both on guitar and vocals. The series continues on 9 December with a folk-inspired programme.
December 8th, from 2pm / The Mick Lally Theatre / get your free ticket here
SEQUINS N SPARKLE! - A CHRISTMAS GIFTING EVENT
No.8 are inviting everyone along to their Christmas gifting eve in their newly revamped store! New manager Joy and the team at No. 8 cant wait to welcome you to an eve of Jazz, Sparkle and Christmas gifting. They look forward to showing their brand new Christmas collection stocking fillers as well as their usual Designer handbags and pre loved high end vintage treasures! The evening will consist of: live jazz, cheese and wine, a raffle for a luxury hamper and 20% off on the night!
December 8th, from 7pm / No.8 / get your free ticket here
DROP-IN WORKSHOP: CLOTHES-PEG DOLLS
In times past, before toys were made in factories, Irish children often made their own toys to pass the time and amuse themselves. As money was scarce, they used their imagination to recycle whatever castaway materials were to hand, natural materials such as wood, wool, straw and, even, bone. Sometimes, children would make dolls or soldiers out of old wooden clothes pegs and bits of cloth or rags. Why not have a go at making your own clothes-peg doll? Just drop into the Education Room on Level 2 at Galway City Museum anytime between 11am and 1pm. The Education Assistant will be on hand to get you set-up and started, and full instructions (in English, Irish, and Ukrainian) and all materials are provided. This family event is free of charge and booking is not required.
December 9th, from 11am / Galway City Museum / for more information tap here
GALWAY INDOOR MARKET
The next edition of the Galway Indoor Market will feature up to 20 stalls that showcase the best of Vintage, Retro, Second Hand & Hand Made from Independent business and creative individuals from Galway and beyond. Expect to discover new and old Clothing, Jewelry, Furniture, Crafts, Original Art, Botany & much much more including music all day from a local DJ Collective.
December 9-10th, & 16-17th, from 11am / Cornstore, Outset Gallery / more here
TALK & SCREENING: ORDINARY TREASURES - OBJECTS FROM HOME
The short film Ordinary Treasures: Objects from Home asks the question “If you had to leave your home for your own safety, what would you bring with you?” and bears witness to what six International Protection Applicants and Refugees, who have been attending the Irish Refugee Integration Network (IRIN) English language classes, packed with them when fleeing their homeland. Made in conjunction with IRIN and the School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies in Dublin City University (DCU), the film is underpinned by a commitment to solidarity and socially-engaged artistic practice, strives to encourage empathy and affective change through an emphasis on voice, object and story. Film directors, Maria Loftus and Fíona Murphy from DCU, will introduce the film, accompanied by two International Protection Applicants, who will speak about the co-design process. This film is suitable for all ages.
December 13th, from 2pm / Galway City Museum / get your free ticket here
ILLUSTRATED TALK: GALWAY IN OLD PHOTOS
As part of its outreach programme, Galway City Museum has curated a series of educational events, which will take place at Westside Resource Centre. Join Brendan McGowan, Education Officer at Galway City Museum, as he shares and discusses some late nineteenth and early twentieth century photographs of Galway from the Lawrence Collection at the National Library of Ireland and from Chetham’s Library in Manchester.
January 9th, from 11am / Westside Resource Centre / get your free ticket here
ILLUSTRATED TALK: MEDIEVAL PILGRIMS FROM GALWAY TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
As part of its outreach programme, Galway City Museum has curated a series of educational events, which will take place at Westside Resource Centre. One of the major pilgrimages of the medieval Christian world, the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St James) is a network of routeways that lead to the shrine of St James the Apostle in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia in northwest Spain. Join Dr Bernadette Cunningham, author of Medieval Irish Pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela (2018), as she shares the story of Galway’s Margaret Athy and other pilgrims from the West.
February 6th, from 11am / Westside Resource Centre / get your free ticket here
Feature photo by @chaoshengzhang
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