Latest news with #GalwayArtsFestival
The Irish Sun
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
‘Consider different route' warning for drivers after multi-vehicle crash on busy Irish motorway amid delays on M50
IRISH road users have been warned "delays will occur" after a multi-vehicle collision on the M1/N1 this morning. Across the roads this morning debris, breakdowns and traffic are causing chaos for motorists. Advertisement The M1/N1 collision was reported just before 8.30am this morning between J5 Balbriggan and J4 Donabate headed southbound. The crash occurred seven kilometres south of the Stallmullen area, impacting Lane 2. Transport Infrastructure Ireland warned: "Delays to your journey will occur. Consider a different journey route or start time. "When approaching the collision location, drive with caution, reduce your speed and obey instructions from emergency services." Advertisement READ MORE IN MOTORS On the M50 a breakdown involving a car or motorbike has also added to delays this morning. The breakdown happened between J11 Tallaght and J12 Firhouse. The breakdown is sitting at Lane 1 and drivers are warned to approach with caution and reduce speed. Minor delays are expected as a result of the breakdown. Advertisement MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN And in the midlands, debris on the road is impacting motorists outside the capital. Gardai and RSA measures aimed at driving crash deaths on Irish roads Debris is sitting on the M6/N6 eastbound between J7 Moate and J6 Moate, around two kilometres outside Moate. Transport bosses have warned that delays will occur for road users as a result of the obstruction. Transport Infrastructure Ireland warned: "Due to the nature of the impact of the debris, delays to your journey will occur. Advertisement "When approaching the area please drive with caution, reduce your speed." And further along the same stress debris is also causing delays. This debris is sitting in Lane 1 between J14 Ballinasloe and J13 Athlone headed eastbound. This is just three kilometres west of the Athlone area with bosses warning once again: "delays to your journey will occur." Advertisement IRISH RAIL SCHEDULE CHANGES Trains in Kildare are running 15 minutes behind this morning due to an earlier incident. Irish Rail suspended services through Kildare for a time this morning, however they have since resumed. Irish rail bosses have confirmed services will return to normal operating times throughout the day. The rail bosses have also confirmed they are extending train times in Galway due to an upcoming festival. Advertisement The Galway Arts Festival – Microscosmos Parade will take place tomorrow. As a result the 10.25pm Galway/Athlone service will be deferred to 11pm. 1 An M50 breakdown is just one of today's delays Credit: Paddy Cummins/
Irish Independent
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Galway International Arts Festival 2025: Locals and visitors react as festival opens in Eyre Square
Now in its 48th year, the festival started on Monday July 14 and will run until July 27. Despite the wet start, with Met Eireann issuing a thunderstorm warning for most of Monday afternoon, the event has already attracted hundreds of expectant people from far and wide. Ames: New to Galway, excited for first arts festival Speaking to the Irish Independent at the Festival Garden in Eyre Square, Ames, who has only been living in the town of the Tribes for five weeks, said he loves the atmosphere already. 'It's absolutely lovely. Everybody's very cheerful and the arts are absolutely beautiful. Talking about the shows ahead, he added: 'I'm going to be looking at the schedule soon. It's all new to me, but it's very exciting. I was a big, big fan of the arts festivals in the States and I come from Tucson, which is known for gemstones and art festivals. So I'm just super excited.' John: Galway native celebrates festival tradition Not too far from him we met Galway city native John, who said he has enjoyed GIAF since he was a child. 'It's quite a fun time, it always brings a lovely vibrant energy to the city. I love to just exploring and walk around.' 'There's a lot of stuff when you finish work, people in the city can just run up to it and have a look at it. I think that's what makes the Galway Arts Festival so unique. 'It's so accessible for everyone. We've just walked up the city there and we've been to two installations already and I think that's what makes it so unique. It's kind of alive. It's not in a gallery, behind a building or something, it's alive,' he said. Eve: 20-year resident says festival has 'something for everyone' Eve is also a festival regular as she has been living in Galway city for 20 years. She explained that her favourite thing about the festival is that 'there's something for everyone'. She added: 'I think everybody from Galway loves [the festival],' she said. 'It brings a real great vibe and you get to see nice things. It's something different, like the circus last night was amazing with Sabotage. So I'd say anyone out there, come to Galway.' The festival is also a special event for staff and business owners. The much-loved Tiny Traders Market has been set up in the festival garden and will use the opportunity to showcase some of its vendors. Martha Begley Schade: Author calls festival stall 'fantastic honour' One of those sellers is children books author, Martha Begley Schade, who said it is a 'fantastic honour and pleasure' for her to be part of it and have a stall at the Festival Garden. She said: 'I think it's absolutely wonderful. The atmosphere here is just really great. People are friendly and there's a class, a class feeling about being here. I'm never asked 'are you the author?' Because people just take it for granted that this is the standard that we're bringing. 'It's a wonderful opportunity to actually showcase your products and a bit of Galway to right around the world and it's a lovely feeling because I do feel I'm representing Galway in a small way. 'My dream is that the books will have an impact, so that I have a positive influence on children growing up and being better adults. So can you imagine taking that out onto an international stage? It's a wonderful feeling and I'm really appreciative of the fact that I could be here. Plus all this staff here, the security guys, the guys with the coffee, it's a really fantastic honour and pleasure to be here.' Headline acts and diverse programming A variety of acts are on offer at this year's festival. Locally formed band The Stunning return to familiar territory when they perform at the Heineken Big Top on July 26. Further headline acts consist of Irish bands Kingfishr (July 20), Picture This (July 21-22) and the Mary Wallopers (July 19), while Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Natasha Bedingfield will also take to the Big Top on July 17. There is plenty more on offer outside of just music. A variety of visual arts performances, talks, and theatre shows will take place in venues across the city. The hefty list of shows includes Oh… a solo show by Mikel Murfi set in the main tank of Galway Atlantaquaria and shows Scorched Earth by Luke Murphy and The Cave by Caitríona McLaughlin and starring Aaron Monaghan, Judith Roddy and Tommy Tiernan.
Irish Independent
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
View from the street as Galway International Arts Festival kicks off – ‘It's a fantastic honour to be here'
Now in its 48th year, the festival started on Monday July 14 and will run until July 27. Despite the wet start, with Met Eireann issuing a thunderstorm warning for most of Monday afternoon, the event has already attracted hundreds of expectant people from far and wide. Speaking to the Irish Independent at the Festival Garden in Eyre Square, Ames, who has only been living in the town of the Tribes for five weeks, said he loves the atmosphere already. 'It's absolutely lovely. Everybody's very cheerful and the arts are absolutely beautiful. Talking about the shows ahead, he added: 'I'm going to be looking at the schedule soon. It's all new to me, but it's very exciting. I was a big, big fan of the arts festivals in the States and I come from Tucson, which is known for gemstones and art festivals. So I'm just super excited.' Not too far from him we met Galway city native John, who said he has enjoyed GIAF since he was a child. 'It's quite a fun time, it always brings a lovely vibrant energy to the city. I love to just exploring and walk around.' 'There's a lot of stuff when you finish work, people in the city can just run up to it and have a look at it. I think that's what makes the Galway Arts Festival so unique. 'It's so accessible for everyone. We've just walked up the city there and we've been to two installations already and I think that's what makes it so unique. It's kind of alive. It's not in a gallery, behind a building or something, it's alive,' he said. Eve is also a festival regular as she has been living in Galway city for 20 years. She explained that her favourite thing about the festival is that 'there's something for everyone'. She added: 'I think everybody from Galway loves [the festival],' she said. 'It brings a real great vibe and you get to see nice things. It's something different, like the circus last night was amazing with Sabotage. So I'd say anyone out there, come to Galway.' The festival is also a special event for staff and business owners. The much-loved Tiny Traders Market has been set up in the festival garden and will use the opportunity to showcase some of its vendors. One of those sellers is children books author, Martha Begley Schade, who said it is a 'fantastic honour and pleasure' for her to be part of it and have a stall at the Festival Garden. She said: 'I think it's absolutely wonderful. The atmosphere here is just really great. People are friendly and there's a class, a class feeling about being here. I'm never asked 'are you the author?' Because people just take it for granted that this is the standard that we're bringing. 'It's a wonderful opportunity to actually showcase your products and a bit of Galway to right around the world and it's a lovely feeling because I do feel I'm representing Galway in a small way. 'My dream is that the books will have an impact, so that I have a positive influence on children growing up and being better adults. So can you imagine taking that out onto an international stage? It's a wonderful feeling and I'm really appreciative of the fact that I could be here. Plus all this staff here, the security guys, the guys with the coffee, it's a really fantastic honour and pleasure to be here.' A variety of acts are on offer at this year's festival. Locally formed band The Stunning return to familiar territory when they perform at the Heineken Big Top on July 26. Further headline acts consist of Irish bands Kingfishr (July 20), Picture This (July 21-22) and the Mary Wallopers (July 19), while Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Natasha Bedingfield will also take to the Big Top on July 17. There is plenty more on offer outside of just music. A variety of visual arts performances, talks, and theatre shows will take place in venues across the city. The hefty list of shows includes Oh… a solo show by Mikel Murfi set in the main tank of Galway Atlantaquaria and shows Scorched Earth by Luke Murphy and The Cave by Caitríona McLaughlin and starring Aaron Monaghan, Judith Roddy and Tommy Tiernan.
Irish Independent
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Reeling in D years: Capturing the life and leadership of President Michael D Higgins through a lens
With President Michael D Higgins stepping down in November, artistic director of Galway Arts Festival Paul Fahy celebrates his tenure, which will be marked with the exhibition Through the Lens at the city's museum As President Michael D Higgins approaches the final months of his 14-year tenure, Galway City Museum and Galway International Arts Festival have come together to present President Michael D. Higgins – Through the Lens, a photographic exhibition celebrating a life defined by purpose, compassion and culture. From the beginning, Galway City Museum director Eithne Verling and I sought to capture not only the statesman, activist and politician, but also the deeply human qualities that have endeared President Higgins to so many: his warmth, humour, humanity and love of life.
RTÉ News
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Comedian Aoife Dunne on her new show, 'Good Grief'
Stand-up comedian, Aoife Dunne, told Oliver about finding comedy in grief, becoming the head of her household at the age of 23 and how she came to revisit her dreams and ambitions in her thirties. Aoife's show Good Grief is part of the Galway Arts Festival in July and will be in Dublin's Ambassador in September.
