Galway in Summer

Galway erupts into an electric city when the warmer weather comes. People from all over the world plan their summers around the famous festivals and events that take over the winding streets of the city. Galway is a place that’s always worth visiting, but something special happens when the sun hits Galway Bay. Experiencing that is something that needs to happen, at least once in your life.

Luckily for you, The Dean Galway is perfectly placed with a front row seat for it all. Here are my recommendations for making the most of a Galway city summer. 

The Irish Capital of Culture

Few other places in Ireland support the arts as much as Galway does, which makes the city the place to be for people looking to dive deep into Irish culture. Kicking the summer off is the Galway Folk Festival on the first weekend in June, where you’ll find brilliant Irish acts like Damian Dempsey, Róis and The Divine Comedy play in venues across the city.

July brings two festivals for those into the visual arts, with the Galway Film Fleadh on from the 7th to the 9th and the extraordinary Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF), which takes place over two weeks from the 13th to the 26th. The programme for the Film Fleadh is announced in June, but expect a healthy mix of Irish and international films with plenty of premieres thrown in too. If there’s one essential time to be in town, I’d have to say it’s when GIAF is on. This celebration of all things creative is a wonderful mix of media and artists; sure where else would you get to enjoy street parties and works from up and coming playwrights before seeing huge names like Patti Smith and The Flaming Lips take to the stage?

Festivals All Summer Long

From bringing the city’s history back to life to setting the pace when it comes to horse racing, it’s rare that you’ll find yourself in Galway when there are no summer events happening. The city is in full flow in July and August, and the highlight for many are the Galway Races. Feel the power of these majestic beasts thundering past to the finish line at this race festival from July 27th to August 2nd. Don’t forget to pack your Sunday best for Ladies’ Day on the 30th.

There are so many hidden histories and forgotten stories on the streets of Galway. One of the best ways to get below the surface of the city is by making the most of National Heritage Week. Running from August 15th to the 23rd, these events give you access to historic buildings that are usually difficult to access with specialist walking tours leading to all sorts of surprises. Did you know there are ancient fossils hidden in the stone facades of the city’s buildings? Now you do, and that’s just for starters. Keep your journey into Galway’s past going with the Galway Traditional Boat Festival, which takes place every August, where you’ll get the chance to see the iconic red sails of the iconic local boat, The Galway Hooker.

Foodie’s Delight

Festivals and events may get all the headlines here during the summer, but one of the main reasons why Galway is popular year round comes down to its top notch foodie scene. And you won’t have to go far to find somewhere great during your stay. Pop up to the rooftop of The Dean Galway to Sophie’s and watch the sun set on the Twelve Bens mountains while you look through the menu of elevated Irish classics with a Mediterranean twist. Pop next door afterwards for a nightcap at Peig’s Bar, where the wooden interior takes you back to pubs of yesteryear and the snug’s just right for snuggling into. 

Or if you fancy a short stroll, wander through the Latin Quarter to Ard Bia on the water’s edge for breakfast during your visit. They serve monthly menus that change with the seasons inside a beautiful stone building next to the Spanish Arch. Expect interesting takes on familiar dishes like curried sausage hash served with poached eggs and house ketchup. If you’ve slept in and missed brunch (you’re on holidays, so no judgement), stop by The Dough Bros on Church Street for a pizza so tasty it might just be the best you’ve ever had – the spicy Pep Guardijala is my pick of the bunch, but you really can’t go wrong here. Order it to go and tuck in down by the water if the weather is on your side.

Looking to get the steps in? One of my favourite things about Galway City is its location; in less than half an hour, you can walk to the beachside village of Salthill. Bring your swimming togs if the sun is shining and join the locals who leap into the Atlantic from the diving tower on sunny days. Treat yourself afterwards with a coffee and a pastry from Kali Coffee, or if you need something stronger, you’ll find organic, biodynamic and natural wines at The Pear Tree Café & Wine Bar.

Galway is a city that excels at so many things, from the arts to culture and food; it’s easy to see why people form such a deep connection with the place and return time and time again. Book your stay at The Dean Galway and fall in love with the city this summer. 

Cían Byrne is an award winning travel writer and author of the Moon Guide to Ireland. He splits his time between the mountains and cities, where he’s always on the lookout for a good pub and the next great place to eat.