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.
STOP THROWING LEMONS
Stop Throwing Lemons are a 4-piece alt-rock/indie band from Galway, Ireland, consisting of two Jacks and two Liams; Liam Carton (vocals), Jack Qualter (Guitar), Jack Silke (Bass) and Liam Liddane (Drums). “Jacks on strings, Liams on other things”. Lovingly described as “cheesy but necessary”, STL have been busy in recent months. Having played together as a three-piece since secondary school, the band picked up Liam Liddane in college, and threw themselves into the Galway music scene. In August 2023, the band got the opportunity to record 3 songs, which are to become their debut singles. “MindWorm” (February 23rd), “This Means Nothing”, and “Untethered” are set to be released in stages, in early-mid 2024.
April 26th, from midnight / Róisín Dubh / get your free ticket here
FLEA STYLE MARKET
Galway’s longest running indoor style market showcasing the best thrifting finds in the city. Offering a variety of preloved, vintage and handmade clothing and accessories from an ever changing lineup of makers and secondhand sellers. It's free entry so pop along as you never know what you might find on their rails. They’ll have loads of gorgeous new stalls with vintage & handmade pieces, and of course their fabulous regular traders who you all know and love, it’s gonna be a brilliant weekend of thrifting.
April 27th from 12pm / Áras na nGael / more information here
TALK & STORYTELLING: OLD IRISH MAY CUSTOMS
As May approaches, join ‘Ireland’s greatest living storyteller’ Eddie Lenihan as he discusses the various customs and superstitions associated with May Eve and May Day, and shares some stories connected with this once important time of year. Celebrated on 1st May, Bealtaine was one of the four great festivals of the Celtic year. An important day in the rural calendar, it marked the beginning of summer and the movement of cattle from lowland winter pasture to higher ground. It was also believed to be a time when the door to the otherworld was ajar, and the fairies and the dead could communicate with the living. Dairy production was thought to be especially vulnerable to supernatural mischief between sunset on May Eve and sunrise on May Day, so the farming community used charms to protect their grass, animals and dairy produce.
April 27th, from 2pm / Galway City Museum / get your free ticket here
KAHLÚA TASTING EVENT
Join The Cellar for an evening of indulgence as Kahlúa hosts a special tasting event. Don’t miss the chance to craft your own FREE Espresso Martini and savor the rich flavors of Kahlua! See you there!
April 27th, from 5.30pm / The Cellar Bar / more information here
GALWAY KILO SALE
Get ready to shop 5000 unique vintage and preloved garms and pay by weight for only €35 per Kilo! You can buy as much or as little as you want. No restrictions! You really never know what you will find + you can buy less than a kilo, so if all you can find is a Tee that weighs 0.1kg, you only pay €3.50. You can expect a great atmosphere filled with buzzing music, happy faces and tons of awesome clothes. Be sure to drop in and prep your summer wardrobe.
April 28th, from 10am / Harbour Hotel / get your free ticket here
JULIA LOUISE KNIFEFIST AND E THE ARTIST
Singular Artists proudly present Julia Louise Knifefist and E The Artist, live upstairs at Róisín Dubh on Friday 3rd May at Midnight. Delivering the sounds of breakcore, gabber, and digital hardcore, KnifeFist takes to stage with a mission to take you to catharsis with his raw energy, explosive vocals, and brain-shakingly infectious rhythms. E The Artist’s body of work recontextualizes contemporary black club genres in the loudest, brashest and most in-tense iterations. Dance and rap styles, from jungle to grime, fuse with the heavier strains of power electronics and extreme metal tropes to remove the oft-constructed ‘palatability’ label that’s falsely placed on black music. Instead, E places the lens on the constantly blossoming neo-cultures happening across the diaspora and from his home base of Ireland in his celebrated work as an artist.
May 3rd, from midnight / Róisín Dubh / get your free ticket here
ILLUSTRATED TALK: BIODIVERSITY AT MERLIN PARK WOODS
Biodiversity at Merlin Park Woods, a collection of over 20 wildlife photographs by Colin Stanley, is the feature external exhibition at Galway City Museum this spring. It features a rich collection of the flora and fauna of Merlin Park Woods. Over the last decade, wildlife photographer and local environmentalist, Colin has produced a large catalogue of wildlife photographs from around Galway City. A founding member of Friends of Merlin Woods, his photographs have featured in the Irish Wildlife Magazine, a Galway Butterfly Project species identification poster for the Heritage Council, and various wildlife publications. Join Colin as he discusses his exhibition, Biodiversity at Merlin Park Woods, his work, and the work of Friends of Merlin Woods as they use the appreciation of nature to create a connection between all the communities of the city.
May 4th, from 2pm / Galway City Museum / get your free ticket here
above: photo by Hannah Martin
GALWAY RECORD FAIR
The Irish Record Fair will be returning to Sally Longs Rock Bar this May with more traders and new stock for the next edition of the Galway Record Fair. Professional traders and collectors offer a wide selection of music from across the genres on vinyl and CD. You can find bargains and ultra rare items, sell or exchange your records and CDs, add to, or “recycle” your collection.
May 11th, from 11am / Sally Longs Bar / more information here
SEMINAR: MILITARY COURTS OF INQUIRY IN GALWAY, 1920-21 LESSONS FOR TODAY
During the War of Independence, under the Restoration of Order in Ireland Act of 1920, Coroner’s Inquests were largely abolished and replaced by Military Courts of Inquiry. The presiding officers did not have to have a medical or legal qualification. They were all military personnel. The rules of evidence were relaxed and the public and press could be refused entry. The end-result was that a lot of ‘suspicious deaths’ went without proper scrutiny. In Galway, in November 1920 alone, Military Courts were held to inquire into the killings of Fr Michael Griffin, Eileen Quinn and the Loughnane brothers, Patrick and Harry. To explore the workings of these Military Courts, how they distorted the truth, and their relevance in today’s world, join Galway City Museum on Saturday 11th May at 1.30pm. This seminar brings together two clinical research projects at the Law School of the University of Galway – one looking at how the Military Courts operated in Galway and one looking at contemporary international standards on how such bodies should function today (e.g., in Palestine).
May 11th, from 1.30pm / Galway City Museum / get your free ticket here
LE CHÉILE: ARTIST TALK WITH LORRAINE FLETCHER
‘Le Chéile’ – Artist Talks with Lorraine Fletcher is an evening of creative conversations at Daróg Wine Bar. It’s an inviting space where guests and the artist can engage in open dialogue, fostering connections and a shared appreciation for artistic experiences. Their next artist speaker Lorraine Fletcher will share her unique insights, inspirations, and her creative journey, while also sharing her story of the artwork currently on display at Daróg. Lorraine's new collection of work entitled “Connections” is on display until Monday 10th of June.
May 15th, from 5.30pm / Daróg Wine Bar / get your free ticket here
SPLANC!
Galway Funk are bringing the Good Times back to Salthill, with a night of funk, soul, disco and reggae in The Office Bar. This May, join them for the free launch night of Splanc! Splanc! (pronounced Splonk!), meaning “spark” of “flash” in Irish. A night of Funk, Soul, Disco, Reggae and fun in a venue with a wooden floor made for dancing. Come on down and boogie the night away!
May 17th, from 8pm / The Office Bar / get your free tickets here
STUPID SON
Ever since releasing their debut single ‘Bread’ in January 2019 to warm reception, Stupid Son have been jittering around the kitchen sink and honing in on their unique blend of melodic art punk. Following a pandemic-induced hiatus, Stupid Son returned in Autumn 2023. Their debut EP, Comedy, recorded with Darragh Hansard in Orc’s Lair Studio in June 2023, was released on February 29th, 2024. Comedy is a concept EP detailing one sleepless night, and has been preceded by three blistering singles each month at the end of 2023. 2024 sees Stupid Son go from strength to strength with a busy start to the year and now a performance in Róisín Dubh on May 17th.
May 17th, from midnight / Róisín Dubh / get your free ticket here
GALWAY INDOOR MARKET
The next edition of the Galway Indoor Market will and 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 with live DJ sets supplied by resident selectors Yawlag Collective.
May 18th, + June 15th from 11am / Cornstore outside Outset Gallery
ONION BOYS
Onion Boys are an artistic and musical collective from Dublin Ireland. Bringing the light hearted and satirical Irish wit to the stage. They bring a heavy punch of flamboyant punk rock n roll to the stage, creating an immersive and undeniable presence. Drawing inspiration from 50s rock and bands such as ‘The Cramps’, ‘Birthday Party’, ’Jonathan Richman’, ‘Amyl and the Sniffers’, ‘Richard Hell’ through satirical lyrics that explore the joys of being an Irish scallywag. With a 5 song E.P set to release in April. Having secured radio plays from the well known Irish DJ legends BBC 6 Deb Grant and John Barker on Dublin City FM. Onion Boys have put boots on the ground and carved their own legacy out of the Irish music scene amassing a strong cult following. Irish artists have always had a reputation for breaking boundaries with Onion Boys at the forefront.
May 23rd, from midnight / Róisín Dubh / get your free ticket here
ANIMATION IRELAND MEITHEAL
Meitheal is an Irish word, meaning a team, a working group, or a gathering of people who meet to share their knowledge and skills in a collective effort, to ensure that all succeed in achieving their goals. The word’s origins lie in the ancient rural Irish tradition of neighbours gathering together to collaborate on tasks, to save the harvests, and to work together for the greater good of the community. All animation industry professionals are welcome to join in an array of talks, panels, and demonstrations of some of the best new technologies in the industry. The primary goal of Animation Ireland Meitheal is to inform and inspire professionals about the current developments in the animation industry, both in Ireland and internationally. This annual get-together in May will be full of great content, great networking, creative and practical information on how to help businesses survive and thrive – plus opportunities to meet buyers, potential business partners or clients.
May 25th, from 10am / Galway Bay Hotel / get your free ticket here
SALTHILL FIVES 2024
As usual alongside the phenomenal sports, there will be loads for food and drink trucks lining the area to keep spectators fueled for all the spectating! A fun family day out in the gorgeous seaside Salthill, the Salthill Fives is not a weekend to miss in Galway. Returning this June for their biggest event to date, this year they welcome men’s teams, u13 boys, and u13 girls cup! The Salthill Fives is sponsored by; Ground & Co. Seapoint Leisure, Seven Bar, The Dough Bros, Curry’s Fun Park, Applegreen, and Sound to Light.
June 1st+2nd / Salthill Park (next to Leisureland) / more here
LIVE HISTORY DEMO: TRADITIONAL WOOL-SPINNING AND WEAVING IN IRELAND
Humans have been spinning fibre into yarn and weaving yarn into cloth not just for centuries but for millennia. The cloth was made into clothing, bedding, tents and other such items, which were essential for the survival and comfort of humans. Without spinning and weaving, their world would have been a cold and comfortless place. Join living-history weaver Seamus Kirwan as he discusses wool fibre and its various uses and demonstrates the Irish tradition of wool spinning and hand-weaving.Come along and try your hand at it, you’ll really enjoy this hands-on experience.
June 8th, from 12pm / Galway City Museum / more information here
FIZZY ORANGE
Fizzy Orange are a six-piece indie/alternative rock group from Dublin city whose soundscape is an analogue-only amalgamation of 60s songwriting, 70s studio techniques, and the 80s home recording revolution, with influences ranging from rock & roll to rocksteady, wielding a bevy of exuberant melodies with soul jazz flair. With a can-do DIY approach, Fizzy Orange have become a consistent sell-out act at home in Ireland. In early 2024, Fizzy Orange sold out their first London headline in Two Palms, Hackney. Grassroots, independent, fiercely up-and-coming, Fizzy Orange are bringing Dublin City Soul with them wherever they go! See them live in Galway this August 8th.
August 8th, from midnight / Róisín Dubh / get your free ticket here
JOB EXPO 2024
If you’re eager for new career opportunities this spring you’ll be happy to hear that Jobs Expo Galway will be returning to Leisureland’s Events Centre on September 28th. It will be an day for recruitment, networking, career coaching and live seminars at the West’s largest careers fair. Meet employers face-to-face and hand in your CV. In addition to the line-up of exhibitors and guest speakers, Jobs Expo will also feature the Career Clinic. Here professional career coaches will offer free career guidance, CV evaluations and interview tips. Jobs Expo is the leading jobs and careers event in Ireland and is free-of-charge to the public. Jobs Expo is run by Careers Unlimited, an online and events company, and organised by Recruit.ie.
September 28th, from 10am / Leisureland / get your free ticket here
Feature photo by @chaoshengzhang
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