Merry month of May events in Galway
Potter
From left, pieces by Karo Art, A Piece of Ireland Galway, and Beehive Ceramics
This weekend sees the beautiful wares of talented ceramicists from across the county and country on display at Spanish Arch for the the beloved Galway Potters Market.
The two-day event, which has been running since 2011, will see all kinds of decorative and functional pieces available for sale, and in many cases it's a rare opportunity to snap up something unique and one-off, always made slowly and with love. Running 3rd-4th May, 10am-6pm, @galwaypottersmarket
Mosh
Written and directed by Rachel Ní Bhraonáin and choreographed by Robyn Byrne, Mosh returns for a nationwide tour this summer, reaching The Black Box on May 28th.
Originally presented at the 2023 Dublin Fringe Festival, where it won Best Ensemble and Best Sound Design, this energetic production has toured across Ireland and the UK, and isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
With an age guidance of 12+, the show blends dance, music and interviews to take a deep dive into communities connected through music and risk. Featuring strobe lighting, smoke machines, and loud music, tickets are from €15 and €20. tht.ie
Dance
The Mick Lally Theatre plays host to the first Galway Disco Dána party of the year on Saturday May 17th. Fans of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’s An Taobh Tuathail have no doubt already nabbed their tickets for Cian Ó Cíobháin’s all-night DJ set, which promises a freestyle through his record collection, “spinning disco, house, techno, Italo, post-punk, half-forgotten classics and dreamy bangers”. Tickets are €15, and doors are from 10pm.
Dine
Though Aniar has offered a young diners menu for many years, May is the last month of its current initiative where young guests (aged 7-15) dine for free with a paying adult.
Aniar say they’ve had children dining almost evening since the special offer was publicised as beginning in April, and may offer a promotion later again in the year. But to guarantee a free 12-course tasting menu for the young gourmand in your life, book your table soon.
Taste
This year’s Blas na Bealtaine programme features natural wine pairings, seafood trials, pop-up feasts, chef swaps, and global flavours rooted with west-of-Ireland ingredients.
Pasta-making classes with Tony Carelli are back by popular demand, while Brazilian chef Laura Rosso presents an authentic Feijoada weekend in her restaurant May 3rd and 4th. At Aniar, award-winning chef Gráinne Mullins will cook an 8-course Brazilian-inspired dinner.
Cava Bodega collaborates with Palestinian chef Fadi Kattan and sommelier Anna Patorowicz for a special one-night dinner, and will also host a free Paella Party to celebrate its birthday this Friday (May 2nd).
And over in Daróg Wine Bar, Zoltán Heimann Jr. (Hungary, pictured) and Jonatan Garcia (Tenerife) will feature in two 'Meet the Winemaker' evenings. For the full list of events and to book tickets, visit atasteofgalway.com/events.
See
Promising nine days of boundary-pushing performances across the city, The Galway Theatre Festival returns from May 2nd to 10th.
“Galway Theatre Festival isn’t just about great theatre – it’s about theatre that matters. It’s about stories that challenge perspectives, make us laugh, and make us feel. It’s about keeping Galway’s cultural scene thriving and fearless,” said Sarah Byrne, its artistic director.
Several this year’s shows tackle climate as a topic; MALAPROP - HOTHOUSE is a time-travelling exploration of climate chaos featuring drag cabarets about bees, Cian Kinsella's CHOP uses physical comedy and puppetry to examine humanity's impact on nature, and Colm O'Grady's The Lonesome Boatman also looks at the climate crisis but as a comedic clown odyssey.
Elsewhere, But We're Right explores rising right-wing ideologies among European youth, and Pre-Ops tackles transphobia through the story of two strangers awaiting hysterectomies, and Carpet Muncher (pictured) is a solo, spoken word performance that celebrates queer resistance.
This year’s festival finishes with TABÚ, a FLINTA-centered (female, lesbian, intersex, trans and asexual) queer club celebration.
For tickets and the complete programme, visit galwaytheatrefestival.com.
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