My top events on during the Galway Arts Festival

With the Galway Arts Festival's festivities beginning today, the 15th of July, and going on until the 28th, there are tons of things to do. This years programme is jam packed and you will be spoiled for choice!

Galway Arts Festival is Ireland's largest international arts festival. Founded in 1978 it has grown into an event with a major reputation where, in 2012, there were 163,548 attendances at 160 performances, talks and exhibitions in 27 venues over 14 days. The Festival showcases a wide variety of international artists alongside the best of Irish talent and includes music (popular, contemporary, jazz, world, classical and traditional), theatre (indoor and outdoor), visual arts, dance, talks, discussions, family events and comedy in its programme.

We've decided to put some of the top events available at the Galway Arts Festival here. Simply click on the title of the event for more details.

Theatre and Dance

• The Rite of Spring and Petrushka

"There’s no doubting the spell of Keegan-Dolan’s imagination."

  - The Guardian

• Mies Julie

"Stunning"   - The New York Times

"An astonishing production"  - Time Out

• Riverrun

"Olwen Fouéré achieves a pure theatricality that is rare indeed."
                -Fintan O'Toole

• Knee Deep

Australia's hottest new circus takes the art form to a whole new level.

Music

• Grizzly Bear

Grizzly Bear have obtained global recognition for their unique sound and incredible musicianship. They'll be playing with special guests, the The Strypes.

• Heathers

Choice Music nominees, Ellie and Louise Macnamara aka Heathers, are taking the stage at the Galway Arts Festival on Monday the 15th. 

• Hudson Taylor

Brothers Alfie and Harry take their inspiration from both folk and pop. This busking and Youtube sensation are impossible not to listen to and become affected.

• Glen Hansard with Damien Dempsey

Two of Ireland's favourite and most gifted musicians take the stage at the Festival Big Top. This one you do not want to miss!

• Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band

Josh Ritter is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and author who performs and records with The Royal City Band, who will also be with him at GAF. Ritter is known for his distinctive Americana style and narrative lyrics.

• Kaleidoscope

Described by the Irish Times as 'one of those life-saving, spirit-lifting, pioneering cultural ventures we keep hearing about', Kaleidoscope is a night of music curated by the violinist Clíodhna Ryan and the cellist Kate Ellis.

• Bird - Julie Feeney

Inspired by Oscar Wilde's 'The Happy Prince', Julie Feeney has devised a new world around the story set in a land of birds. This concert performance of Bird will have both score and libretto by Feeney. 

First Thought - GAF's Talks

• Colum McCann - Transatlantic

McCann weaves together personal stories to explore the fine line between what is real and what is imagined from his new novel Transatlantic.

• Enda Walsh in conversation with Paul Fahy

Enda Walsh is one of Ireland's most celebrated playwrights and he will be joined by the Artistic Director of GAF to discuss his life and work.

• Marie Mullen in conversation with Garry Hynes

Artistic Director and co-founder of Druid Garry Hynes, interviews her longtime collaborator and friend, actor and cofounder of Druid, Marie Mullen.

Comedy

• Ardal O'Hanlon

Father Ted star Ardal O'Hanlon presents his new stand-up show. It has been describes as "funnier than one could imagine possible", by The Scotsman. 

• Andrew Maxwell

One of Ireland's best know comics, Andrew Maxwell continues to dominate the live and festival comedy circuits with sold-out shows around the world including the Edinburgh Festival and Montreal's Just for Laughs. Now he takes the stage at GAF.

To see the full programme click here.

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE HERE.