Meet Paul Fahy: the Galway Arts Festival Director on What He’s Reading, Watching and More
At the festival's helm is its long-standing artistic director Paul Fahy, whose vision pulls together artists from across the creative disciplines – including theatre, circus, music and dance – for two packed weeks of concerts, shows, exhibitions and cultural events.
We caught up with Paul to find out what excites him, from top-secret scripts to black and white movies.
Portrait by Andrew Downes
The last thing I read was the first draft of a new play we hope to produce for our 50th Festival in 2027 which I am very excited about! Top secret for now. I also read Colm Tóibín’s new collection of short stories The News from Dublin which deals beautifully with displacement.
I read a lot of plays and my absolute favourite living playwright is Enda Walsh. He has a unique and singular voice and his work is multi-layered, profound and funny.
From left: Misterman by Enda Walsh starring Cillian Murphy, 2011; The News from Dublin by Colm Tóibín; Jodie Comer in Prima Facie.
The last performance that moved me was Jodie Comer in the arresting and shocking Prima Facie by Suzie Miller.
I love old black and white Italian cinema and have watched Bicycle Thieves several times.
This summer, I’m looking forward to the 49th Galway International Arts Festival – Patti Smith Quartet in the Heineken Big Top and the sensational Stephanie Lake Company, who will perform Colossus with 50 dancers, are amongst my highlights.
We use the city as a stage, bringing art to as wide a community as possible.
Place is hugely important to GIAF. We are inspired by where we live and have created incredible works in response, such as John Gerrard’s Mirror Pavilion in the Claddagh and Derrigimlagh Bog in Connemara. We use the city as a stage, bringing art to as wide a community as possible.
Quality is always the entry point for work at the festival and we are blessed to be surrounded by and work with great talent. I am a great believer in gut instinct and I always consider that. I am always conscious too of our regular audiences and what I feel they might like.
From left: Kai; Ard Bia.
I love how a festival can shape and influence a place and its people. So if I was not here I would probably be involved in a festival somewhere else. On a special occasion, I love to eat at ArdBia at Nimmo’s, Kasbah above Tigh Neactain’s, Rúibín, Kai on Sea Road and O’Grady’s on Kirwan’s Lane.
When anyone is visiting Galway, I always recommend savouring our delightful coastline. We are so lucky to live in a city built on a network of water, with the vast Atlantic Ocean lashing against our shores.
Tickets for this year’s Galway International Arts Festival, which runs from 13th–26th July, are available at giaf.ie.
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