Podcasts about Galway International Arts Festival

Welcome to the official Audio Guide to Tactile Tunes by Jane Cassidy and Arts Alive at the Aula Maxima, University of Galway as part of Galway International Arts Festival 2025. Tactile Tunes is led by Jane Cassidy, a multimedia artist and educator from Galway. Arts Alive Galway is a community-based arts programme for adults with intellectual disabilities under The Brothers of Charity Services Galway. Arts Alive Galway aims to make the joy of music accessible to everyone, transforming how we engage with sound through inclusive creativity. Tactile Tunes is an interactive musical installation designed to encourage music-making among people of all abilities. Using sensory-friendly materials and surfaces, it blends sound, touch, visuals, and movement to create an immersive environment. The project celebrates the belief that everyone has the right — and the ability — to make music in their own way. Developed with the support of Galway Culture Company and Galway International Arts Festival's ELEVATE Bursary, and the Create Artist in the Community Scheme.  

Welcome to the official Audio Guide to Burning Down the House By David Mach as part of Galway International Arts Festival 2025. David Mach is one of the UK's most successful, prolific and respected artists, best known for his dynamic and large-scale collage, and his imposing and provocative public art, sculpture and installations constructed from mass-produced materials including coat hangers, car tyres, newspapers and magazines. Mach's previous sensational GIAF exhibitions – 2012's Precious Light which featured the enormous crucifixion sculpture Golgotha, made from steel and wire coat hangers, and 2018's Rock 'n' Roll which saw Mach place a yacht, car and a caravan with multiple other objects and debris within a monumental quantity of painstakingly positioned newspapers; and 2023's The Oligarch's Nightmare which featured an exploding Range Rover – enjoyed record-breaking audiences. He returns to the Festival with this new site-specific installation Burning Down the House at the Festival Gallery, William Street.  For more information about other shows in the festival visit www.giaf.ie.

Today on Galway Talks with John Morley:   9am-10am LIVE from the festival garden - we'll be talking about all about the next 14 days in the Galway International Arts Festival programme.  Significant rise in rape and sexual assault offences in Galway    Parking chaos in Connemara over the weekend as crowds flock to Roundstone for the good weather  10am-11am GAA Palestine plea for visa reversal   Documentary Premieres at Eye Cinema Galway to Raise Funds and Awareness for Sarcoma Cancer Ireland   Sports preview   11am-12pm Our Galway Great is Arts Festival Artistic Director Paul Fahy  

Morley's Mouthfuls Festival season is well and truly underway right across Galway. The Galway Film Fleadh (which we broadcasted from on Friday) is continuing to amaze audiences with a variety of genres, styles and actors in venues right across the city. However, far from there being a lull in newsy stories we covered a number of local, national and international stories on Galway Talks this week. Two stories very much linked to historical abuse were front and centre over the past few days, namely the exaction of the former Tuam Mother and Baby Home site and the announcement of a Commission of Investigation into historical abuse at religious run schools. The intervention team at Tuam invited media from the world over to North Galway to get a sense of the delicate work beginning there next week. The jury is still out on whether or not the Commission of Investigation into abuse at religious run schools will learn lessons from previous reports from other scandals. The farming sector has greeted news that the EU Commission will be requesting updates from Ireland on the Nitrates Derogation with a great deal of apprehension. For those not from a farming backgrounds, this exemption (only benefitting Ireland) may see reductions in livestock numbers if it is reduced. Glinsk native and Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice gave the historic context of this latest development in Europe. The war in Gaza continues to be a firm point of discussion right across the world, but closer to home here in Galway many groups have been vocal in the support and have raised funds alongside their voices. Bríd Hennelly, Sabrina and Kay Egan and Evelyn Kelly joined us in studio to tell us about why they have decided to walk the Tóchar Phádraig to raise funds for Gaza Go Bragh. Bríd became inspired to do something tangible after working with Palestinian families through Direct Provision. The film fleadh will just be over and we will be jumping straight into the Galway International Arts Festival. We have been looking ahead to some of the stunning acts which will be rolling into town over the coming fortnight. One such act is comedian Al Murray, who brings his Pub Landlord persona to Leisureland later this month. We will be giving more insights into all the shows taking front and centre over the next two weeks on Galway Talks, starting with our first of two broadcasts from the Festival Garden this coming Monday morning. (Our Galway Great will be none other than the Artistic Director of the festival Paul Fahy.) We always love a bit of music on the programme and this week was no exception. Craughwell native Inis Meáin resident Una Ní Fhlánnagáin joined us as she launched a brand new type of harp alongside a new album. Support for Galway talent was on the double this week as Groev came in to play their new single ahead of performances in the Arts Festival Garden. Don't forget that next week we will also be out and about on Friday the 18th for our Community Matters Series in Glinsk, where we will be broadcasting from the National School in the village.

There has been much discussion about who the next President may be, and who will put their name in the hat, but as part of this year's Galway International Arts Festival, they have curated an exhibition looking back at current President Michael D Higgins - and all he has done in public life.For more on this, Seán is joined by Artistic Director of the Galway Arts Festival, Paul Fahy…Image: Galway Arts Festival

A unique collaboration involving Glór and the Galway International Arts Festival is underway at the festival. Oh.... is the debut performance by Mikel Murfi. Set in the main tank of Galway Atlantaquaria, Oh... uses the underwater environment as a poetic space and is described as pushing “the boundaries of traditional theatrical form.” For more on this Alan Morrissey was joined by Kellie Hughes, Theatre Artist & Artistic Director of the Ad Astra Academy Performing Arts creative mentorship programme in University College Dublin. PHOTO CREDIT: Galway International Arts Festival

There has been much discussion about who the next President may be, and who will put their name in the hat, but as part of this year's Galway International Arts Festival, they have curated an exhibition looking back at current President Michael D Higgins - and all he has done in public life.For more on this, Seán is joined by Artistic Director of the Galway Arts Festival, Paul Fahy…Image: Galway Arts Festival

Two months ago, a rendition of “Dimming of the Day” was posted on Facebook. The rendition was courtesy of Ger O'Donnell and Trevor Sexton, with the fantastic addition of Don Stiffe on guitar and vocals. Ger and Trevor are gearing up to be the supporting act for Richard Thompson at the Galway International Arts Festival.

Bobby looks at the music and arts festival business in this week's Industry Review.He sits down with Declan Forde from Beyond The Pale Festival; Co-Founder of Night and Day Festival, Brendan Hurley, and John Crumlish, CEO of Galway International Arts Festival.Listen here.

ACE Galway with Gary McMahon looks back at the first 10 days' of  Galway International Arts Festival and looks forward to the final days coming up.   Gary and his guest critics Martin Kenny & Annie Duffy McMahon review theatre shows including Decadent, Brú, Galway Youth Theatre and Circa's Duck Pond.   The ACE team will cast an eye over the visual arts and discuss the Kneecap and The Undertones gigs and suggest shows to catch over coming days.

Kay is joined by playwrights Marina Carr and Mark O'Rowe, actors Cathy Belton, Robert Sheehan, Marie Mullen, and Bosco Hogan. The programme also featured performances by Tibetan singer Yungchen Lhamo and Trad Rave's Colm Olwill and Jack Dempsey.

Ahead of his concert as part of the Galway International Arts Festival, 'The Police' drummer Stewart Copeland chats to Marty about his orchestral work 'Police Deranged for Orchestra'.

We hear from the CEO of Galway International Arts Festival, John Crumlish

Welcome to the official Audio Guide to We Travel Together By Patricia Piccinini as part of Galway International Arts Festival. Patricia Piccinini is one of Australia's most acclaimed artists who has received worldwide attention for her startling sculptures, installations and digital environments. Born in Sierra Leone, Patricia uses her craft to create striking images of hyperrealistic hybrid animals, humans and creatures to question the way that contemporary technology and culture changes our understanding of evolution and what it means to be human. When leaving this exhibition the artist hopes the audience are inspired to ask questions about the changing relationship between us and the world around us and that hopefully, we can begin to imagine a new way forward, together with other creatures rather at their expense. The Festival Gallery is presented in association with The Dean Galway who also provided support for this audio guide. For more information about other shows in the festival visit www.giaf.ie.

This week's Track of The Week #TOTW is ‘Music' by Niamh Regan 

This week's 'In Conversation with Cathy Belton, a Veteran Stage, film, & TV Actor known for her performances in Hidden Assets and Red Rock. Sean Defoe chatted to Cathy about her career, the summer closure of Abbey Theatre and the premier of the play Reunion' as part of the Galway International Arts Festival.

Actor Robert Sheehan joined Paula MacSweeney on Weekend Breakfast to chat about his role in 'Reunion' at Galway International Arts Festival.He also told us about THAT Instagram post of a gravestone with his name on it!

On ACE Galway with Gary McMahon after a riotous opening of Galway Film Fleadh, Annie Duffy McMahon reviews the much-anticipated Kneecap film.  As ever, Galway International Arts Festival will follow hot on the heels of the Fleadh, and ACE previews Decadent Theatre's World Premiere show with director Andrew Flynn and looks at Galway Youth Theatre's festival offering.  Plus... is there a Sawdoctors theatre show on the way?

Award-winning composer and conductor Eimear Noone will open the Galway International Arts Festival next week collabarating with Stewart Copeland of The Police.

Mat Fraser, star of Loudermilk and American Horror Story, talks about the world premiere of Unspeakable Conversations, a play at this year's Galway International Arts Festival.To catch the full conversation press the 'Play' button below.

Stewart Copeland on playing this summer's Galway International Arts Festival.

Galway artist Niamh Regan released her second album Come As You Are on May 31. On this episode we talk through all 10 of its tracks, as well as a not-very-secret hidden track, plus some of the fun things that she's experienced since releasing debut album Hemet in 2020. -- From the press release: Since its release, Niamh has embarked on headline tours from Ireland, to UK, Australia, Spain + more. Pairing this with many festivals and a variety of support opportunities with artist such as CMAT, Villagers, John Grant, SOAK, Patrick Watson, Sam Amidon, Cormac Begley, and Sorcha Richardson. In between her performances, Niamh began to write her second record in Attica Studios with producer Tommy McLaughlin. She says, ‘I arrived in Donegal to meet Tommy for the first time with a bunch of demos, half-baked ideas and feeling not ready, it was scary. But I'm so glad that I did it that way. Trusted the process and came into the studio with the intention of capturing exactly where I was with it all and Tommy helped me build from there.' And here we are, with the release of that second album, titled ‘Come As You Are'. It's an album full of acutely observed vulnerabilities and introspection. Its themes are the issues that many of us find loom large in the small hours: questions of self-doubt, uncertainty about your life's direction, whether relationships are flourishing in the way you'd hoped and determining priorities. “A lot of it is about being in your late twenties and kind of realising we're all running out of time,” she ponders. “I'd have bouts of massive self-belief in the studio, and then in the next breath I would be like, ‘This is the worst piece of music I could have even imagined.' It was a rollercoaster. But through that I found self-acceptance; this is where I'm at and making peace with that. That's what the album essentially is, just making peace with where I'm at and being realistic with myself.” -- Niamh Regan tour dates: June 13: Windmill Live Show w/James Vincent McMorrow, Dublin (solo) June 16: Doolin Folk Festival (full band) July 16: Galway International Arts Festival (full band) July 25: Song Room, Wexford (solo) August 2: All Together Now August 12: Kilkenny Arts Festival (solo) August 17: Electric Picnic (solo) November 14: Cyprus Avenue, Cork (full band) November 15: Liberty Hall Theatre, Dublin (full band) -- Buy Niamh Regan - Come As You Are: https://niamhregan.bandcamp.com/album/come-as-you-are

11am-12pm Play a part in Galway International Arts Festival this July by becoming a Friend of the Festival    Ours to Protect - Cycle proofing businesses    Music Mornings - GALWAY COUNTY FLEADH  == 'Galway Talks with John Morley' broadcasts every weekday morning from 9am on Galway Bay FM.

Welcome to First Thought Backstage with Galway International Arts Festival, a series where we sit down with theatre-makers from GIAF 2023 to discuss the making of their shows. Life & Times of Michael K, is a hugely ambitious theatrical staging of Nobel Prize-winning author J.M. Coetzee's novel which combines puppetry, performance, film and evocative music bringing together some of South Africa's most revered, multi-award-winning artists in this epic production adapted and directed by Lara Foot. Listen to Charlotte McIvor, lecturer in Drama and Theatre Studies at University of Galway, catch up with cast members in this post-show talk recorded live after their performance at Galway International Arts Festival 2023. First Thought Backstage is presented in association with University of Galway.

Welcome to First Thought Backstage with Galway International Arts Festival, a series where we sit down with theatre-makers from GIAF 2023 to discuss the making of their shows. In this post-show talk Ian Walsh, lecturer at the University of Galway, sits down with Luke Murphy and Will Thompson to dive deeper into the (out of this) world of ideas that went into creating Volcano. Recorded live at Galway International Arts Festival 2023. Acclaimed director and choreographer Luke Murphy blurs the lines of experimental theatre, contemporary dances and a psychological sci-fi thriller in live performance made for the Netflix era. Taking audiences on a unique and voyeuristic journey Volcano explores the all too familiar struggles of power, time and trust, across four, forty-five minute episodes. First Thought Backstage is presented in association with University of Galway.

Welcome to First Thought Backstage with Galway International Arts Festival, a series where we sit down with theatre-makers from GIAF 2023 to discuss the making of their shows. The Pulse by Gravity & Other Myths is a hugely ambitious and monumental work of scale that unites audience, acrobat and choir into a single mesmerising organism. A shimmering mass of sixty acrobats and choir members unite and divide, becoming a spectacular being of muscle, bone and voice as a mountain of bodies crumbles into an ocean of sound. Listen to Charlotte McIvor, lecturer in Drama and Theatre Studies at University of Galway, catch up with cast members in this post-show talk recorded live after their performance at Galway International Arts Festival 2023. First Thought Backstage is presented in association with University of Galway.

Vinyl Hours is a series of talks with music aficionados in conversation with music maestro Tiernan Henry. On this episode Tiernan sits down with New Zealander DJ Fitchie, AKA Mu, of Fat Freddy Drops ahead of his performance at the Heineken Big Top. Recorded live at Galway International Arts Festival 2023. Spend an hour on an aural journey of treasured musical memories with special guests, who reveal their go-to playlists, the soundtrack to their lives and explore what exactly it stirs within them; fun, heartbreak and revolution. 

Druid Theatre Company always had a passion to put on one of Ireland's great playwrights, Sean O'Casey's, The Plough and the Stars, The Shadow of a Gunman and Juno and the Paycock. As the company stage the trilogy at the Galway International Arts Festival before embarking on a national tour they join Arena to discuss.

Dispatches from Lindsey Hilsum, the International Editor at Channel Four News, have for decades informed us of what is happening in some of the most troubled hotspots of the world. Lindsey joins Dearbhail before her talk later today as part of the Galway International Arts Festival.

Join Arena for our Special from the Galway International Arts Festival with guests Colm and Brenda Meaney. Luke Murphy and Darcy Grant as well as photographer's Lorraine Tuck & Brian Cross

Pat McGrath, Western Correspondent, reports that the annual Galway International Arts Festival gets underway this week.

11am-12pm Financial Advice with Dave McCarthy And we are LIVE at the Festival Garden for the Galway International Arts Festival with Gerry Coy, Scottish artist David Mach and Galway Bay FM's Darren Kelly. == 'Galway Talks with Keith Finnegan' broadcasts every weekday morning from 9am on Galway Bay FM.

9am-10am Update on meeting with Minister regarding Esker  And we are LIVE at the Festival Garden for the Galway International Arts Festival with Artistic Director Paul Fahy and Festival Box Office Manager Isabel Hanrahan == 'Galway Talks with Keith Finnegan' broadcasts every weekday morning from 9am on Galway Bay FM.

10am-11am ‘Happy Ever After' Creche with cares for 120 children and employs 24 staff is expected to close in the coming weeks as the lease with ‘Tuam Parish Council' is set to run out.  Public Beware - Corrandulla  And we are LIVE at the Festival Garden for the Galway International Arts Festival with Chief Executive John Crumlish and 'Every Brilliant Thing' actor Clare Barrett. == 'Galway Talks with Keith Finnegan' broadcasts every weekday morning from 9am on Galway Bay FM.

Father and daughter, Colm Meaney and his daughter Brenda, have teamed up to work together on the new play by Enda Walsh called 'Bedbound'. Funnily enough, the pair play father and daughter and they joined Ian in studio this morning to tell him all about it. Starring Colm Meaney and his daughter Brenda Meaney, it runs from the 14 - 29 July at Bailey Allen Hall, University of Galway as part of Galway International Arts Festival and the 8 - 12 August at 3Olympia Theatre. Colm & Brenda join me this morning in studio. Colm returns to the Irish stage for the first time in over 40 years, to play the once-flamboyant furniture salesman. Brenda Meaney plays his daughter, confined to a small bed.

Brenda & Colm Meaney spoke to Ryan about their careers on stage, coming home, and their upcoming major new revival of Enda Walsh's 'Bedbound' produced by Landmark Production and Galway International Arts Festival.

Welcome to First Thought Backstage with Galway International Arts Festival, a series where we sit down with theatremakers from GIAF 2022 to discuss the making of their shows. Geoff Sobelle's Home throws open the doors and invites you to a must see moving meditation of the relentless passage of time, and a breath-taking spectacle of illusion, choreography, music and storytelling. Listen to Dr El Putnam, Lecturer in Digital Media at NUI Galway catch up with cast members Home in this post-show talk. Hear the ensemble members' thoughts on the characters they play and explore the everyday drama of what makes a house a home. First Thought Backstage is presented in association with University of Galway.

Vinyl Hours is Galway International Arts Festival's music discussion series which takes place live at the festival and here on the First Thought podcast. Join us on an aural journey of musical memories with Galwegian singer-songwriter Anna Mullarkey and host Tiernan Henry. Listen as they delve into Anna's eclectic soundtrack that features the artists that inspire her and her work. Anna Mullarkey's Vinyl Hours playlist is available to enjoy on Galway International Arts Festival's Spotify page. First Thought is a series of live and recorded talks and podcasts produced in association with University of Galway.

Welcome to First Thought Backstage with Galway International Arts Festival, a series where we sit down with theatremakers from GIAF 2022 to discuss the making of their shows. Writer and director Enda Walsh ‘s The First Child invites you to an opera like no other – an experience that takes opera to new realms, where a cast of singers is joined by an actor, a dancer and children in a multi-media extravaganza that is at times intimate, explosive and trilling. Listen to Dr Barry Houlihan, Archivist at University of Galway catch up with cast members The First Child in this post-show talk. Hear the cast members' thoughts on the characters they play as they take you on this powerful rollercoaster ride. First Thought Backstage is presented in association with University of Galway.

Welcome to First Thought Backstage at Galway International Arts Festival. In this series we get to sit down with theatremakers at GIAF 2022 to discuss the making of their shows. First Thought is presented in association with University of Galway. One of the world's most celebrated theatre ensembles, Chicago's Steppenwolf make their much-anticipated return to Galway for the first time in 15 years with Sam Shepard's True West. Listen to University of Galway Professor of Drama and Theatre Studies, Patrick Lonergan catch up with cast members Randall Arney and Ora Jones in this post-show talk. Hear the ensemble members' thoughts on the characters they play, the history of the ensemble and new resonances in the revived American classic.

Welcome to First Thought Backstage at Galway International Arts Festival. In this series we get to sit down with theatremakers at GIAF 2022 to discuss the making of their shows. This is a post show talk of 'From a Low and Quiet Sea ' at Galway International Arts Festival 2022. University of Galway Drama and Theatre Studies Lecturer, Dr Charlotte McIvor, speaks with the cast and director of From a Low and Quiet Sea, an adaption of Donal Ryan's Booker Prize-nominated novel. In this world premiere by Decadent Theatre and Galway Arts Centre, McIvor is joined by director Andrew Flynn and cast members Aosaf Afzal, Darragh O'Toole, Maeve Fitzgerald and Lorcan Cranitch. Listen closely to hear a guest appearance from the acclaimed author, Donal Ryan! First Thought Backstage is presented in collaboration with University of Galway. You can listen back to all episodes via GIAF.ie or find First Thought Backstage on any podcast platform.

A special edition wandering this year's Galway International Arts Festival, taking in art from Maria del Pacheco, John Gerrard, Sean Lynch, Jack Phelan and Annex.

One of the world's most celebrated theatre ensembles, Chicago's Steppenwolf make their much-anticipated return to Galway for the first time in 15 years with Sam Shepard's True West. Listen to Professor of Drama and Theatre Studies, Patrick Lonergan catch up with cast members Randall Arney and Ora Jones in this post-show talk. Hear the ensemble members' thoughts on the characters they play, the history of the ensemble and new resonances in the revived American classic.

Luke Clancy tours the visual art program at Galway International Arts Festival, taking in work by John Gerard, Luke Jerram, Ana Maria Pacheco and Annex.

Artist Anna Maria Pacheco - Philip O Doherty from Fíbín Theatre Company - Helen Meany and Judy Murphy review GIAF - Crash Ensemble

Dave talks to The Frames frontman Glen Hansard, ahead of their gig at the Big Top at the Galway International Arts Festival on 23rd July

With guests - Enda Walsh, Donnacha Dennehy and Paul Fahy - Eímear Noone - Sonya Kelly - Glenn Davis and Brooke Flanagan of Steppenwolf Ensemble & music from Anna Malarkey, ‘Falling Apart'.

This is a post show talk of 'From a Low and Quiet Sea ' at Galway International Arts Festival 2022. NUI Galway Drama and Theatre Studies Lecturer, Dr Charlotte McIvor, speaks with the cast and director of From a Low and Quiet Sea, an adaption of Donal Ryan's Booker Prize-nominated novel. In this world premiere by Decadent Theatre and Galway Arts Centre, McIvor is joined by director Andrew Flynn and cast members Aosaf Afzal, Darragh O'Toole, Maeve Fitzgerald and Lorcan Cranitch. Listen closely to hear a guest appearance from the acclaimed author, Donal Ryan.

The Galway International Arts Festival is kicking off this week and, as part of it, there's a show happening called Muc Rí. It's being described as like a graphic novel on stage with the atmosphere of a rock concert right in the heart of Galway. Dave chats to writer and director of the show Philip Doherty

How do you stage a large-scale artwork during a global pandemic? Galway International Arts Festival, in association with its education partner NUI Galway, lifts the lid on the making and staging of John Gerrard's stunning large-scale artwork Mirror Pavilion, Corn Work and Leaf Work, during the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic in this new podcast documentary. Mirror Pavilion, by Irish artist John Gerrard, is a beautiful and striking large-scale structure (7m x 7m), with three sides and the roof clad in a highly reflective mirror and the fourth wall a high–resolution LED wall, which hosts the artworks Corn Work and Leaf Work. The artwork, which is powered by sustainable energy sources, is a response to the escalating climate crisis.