Veteran race goers, and indeed those who simply love the atmosphere, travel from around the world for the unique experience that is, the Galway Races.

The Galway Races is certainly a festival for everyone. The Festival runs for seven consecutive days at Galway Racecourse starting from the last Monday in July each year.

Next Race Meeting

July 30th – August 8th 2012

Download the 2012 Brochure 

They are the first line up for the Volvo Ocean Race which is happening in Galway on June 30th – July 8th 2012. After the roaring success three years ago, Galway is excited to welcome back the event of the year.

650,000 people visited the Race Village during the Galway stopover in the last edition of the Volvo Ocean Race. 10,000 people lined the harbour walls at 3am on the morning of 24th May 2009 to welcome the Volvo Ocean Race fleet into Ireland, culminating in record crowds of almost 200,000 for the In Port and Pro Am Race.

As well as playing host to a festival which will last about 10 days, Galway City will also host the closing ceremony for the Ocean Race.

Events will be taking place throughout the city including Eyre Square, Salthill, Southpark – and in the Town Hall Theatre pirouetting parrots, dancing ducks, flouncing flowers and a very Mad Hatter will be performing in a marvelous new dance production from Youth Ballet West,Alice Underground premiering for the Volvo Ocean Race.
The Main Stage will be situated in the Volvo Ocean Race Village on the Galway Docks.

Here is a link to the Official PDF Brochure – Download

Plenty of more detail can be found here – Lets Do It Global

Here exists the perfect combination of natural elements required to produce the perfect oyster. Protected in the bay from the full force of the Atlantic storms, the 700 acres of beds also have the ideal mixture of fresh and seawater, so vital for oyster development.

Native Irish oysters, ostrea edulis, also known as the European Flat Oyster are reputed to be the best-flavoured oysters in the world. Oysters have always been linked with love. When Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, sprang forth from the sea on an oyster shell and promptly gave birth to Eros, the word “aphrodisiac” was born.

The dashing lover Casanova also used to start a meal by eating 12 dozen oysters. Romance aside, oysters are a pretty healthy option for everyone – they’re a valuable source of minerals, such as zinc, calcium and copper, and are also rich in iodine and low in cholesterol. Good news also is that each oyster has only 7 calories!!

So join us at the 2011 Clarenbridge Oyster Festival and perhaps after you’ve sampled our Oysters you’ll love longer, live longer and look younger!

During Friday 23^rd to Sunday 25^th September 2011, the festival will host the National Oyster Opening competition as well as the overall World Oyster Opening Championship. Each year, there is a tradition of selecting an ‘Oyster Pearl’ from the beautiful ladies of Galway who enter the longstanding pageant and they will lead the Festival parade as it moves through the streets of Galway to the Festival Marquee at Galway Harbour. Festival goers have an action packed weekend from a seafood dine-around Galway’s best restaurants to the Gala Ball in the stunning surroundings of Hotel Meyrick on Eyre Square including an electrifying musical line up, an array of quality Irish seafood, celebrity cook offs and plenty of  ‘craic’ (fun) throughout the three days.

The Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival is undoubtedly a world event and a great time for visiting Galway, the City of the Tribes.

 The 57^th Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival, 23^rd - 25^th of September 2011, will make a welcome return to a Marquee this year and will be located at Galway Harbour.

The festival has been acclaimed as “one of the 12 greatest shows on earth” by The Sunday Times, and has attracted over 10,000 international and local attendees each September. This year the programme will be widened to include seafood as well as oysters and there is an exciting line up of events confirmed so far.

Following a seafood dine-around the restaurants of Galway city, the Irish Oyster Opening Championships will headline Friday evening in the Festival Marquee with openers from all over Ireland getting ready to take on the challenge of becoming the Irish Oyster Opening Champion. This honour is currently held by Michael Moran, who has remained unbeaten for the past three years! Guests will enjoy Galway seafood chowder with a Gourmet Seafood platter. Sean Slattery and the Connections will kick the night off followed by the Party Kings. Tickets are only €25 and the non-stop entertainment guarantees you’ll be finding your dancing feet before the night’s end.

On Saturday, the much loved parade will start from Hotel Meyrick, Eyre Square at 11.30am and will travel through the streets of Galway featuring a colourful musical line-up, vintage cars, oyster openers, the Oyster Pearls and visiting dignitaries.

A non-stop afternoon of entertainment and festival fun awaits in the Festival Marquee; Oyster Tasting, The World Oyster Opener Championship, Best Dressed Lady competition and live music. Guests are invited to enjoy a seafood medley with freshly baked Irish brown bread followed by a choice of fresh Galway Oysters or locally Smoked Salmon platter whilst sipping on a complimentary beverage of their choice. The World Oyster Opening Competition will feature Irish and international experts who have all proven speed accomplishments as they compete for the coveted title currently held by Johan Malm of Sweden, our 2010 winner. A varied, live music programme featuring the renowned Friendship Band, Emma O’Sullivan & dance troop, Long John Jump Band and The Bentley Boys will keep the crowd in high spirits throughout the day. Tickets are €80 for the full day.

The Gala Dinner will be held in in the stylish surrounding of the Hotel Meyrick. It will be a glamorous black tie evening to celebrate the 57th World Oyster Opening Champion. Sip on champagne and enjoy fresh oysters during the pre-dinner drinks reception. A gourmet five – course banquet style meal will be served accompanied by select wines throughout. An impressive musical line up including The Piano Man – Sean de Burca, Keith McDonald and the Wall Street Band with Gareth Phillips will keep you entertained and dancing until the early hours – making this event the festival highlight that simply can’t be missed! Tickets for the Gala Dinner are €110.

On Sunday 25^th September – Round up the 57th Galway International Oyster & Seafood festival with style at the final event of an action-packed weekend. Live music, dancing, ‘Blas na Mara’ (Taste of the Sea) – seafood extravaganza, family activities, cooking demos and much, much more.

Experience the unique atmosphere, savour some wonderful Irish produce and bring your little ones in marine theme costume for our ‘Oyster Sprat’ competition (a sprat is a young oyster). Kids under 12 years go FREE. Overall, a great day out in Galway for all the family!

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We will give you the history of the city and county and point in the right direction, if you want to do some exploring. Don’t forget, we have many special offers for tours to the Burren and Connemara.

Veteran race goers, and indeed those who simply love the atmosphere, travel from around the world for the unique experience that is, the Galway Races.

The Galway Races is certainly a festival for everyone. The Festival runs for seven consecutive days at Galway Racecourse starting from the last Monday in July each year.

NEXT RACE MEETING

Summer Festival Meeting 2011

Galway Arts Festival is Ireland’s largest annual arts festival, taking place each July in the city of Galway. Founded in 1978, the Festival collaborates with artists and companies throughout the world to produce and present an international programme of theatre, spectacle, dance, visual arts, music, literature & comedy involving hundreds of artists and performers.

Galway Arts Festival is at the heart of all aspects of life in Galway City contributing immeasurably to the economic, social and cultural life of the west of Ireland. Over its 34-year history, the Festival has become a vital showcase for Irish arts internationally and international arts in Ireland and is now firmly established as Ireland’s leading arts festival.

The Festival will highlight dance, physical theatre and spectacle from America and Europe illustrating the Festival’s continuing commitment to staging extraordinary, ambitious and innovative projects, the world premiere of new Irish theatre and site-specific visual arts commissions to add to the magic and diversity of Galway in July.

An annual festival highlight is the annual Macnas Parade which winds it’s way through the city streets bringing a mixture of high excitment, spectacle and an abundance of energy to Galway.