Greetings from Under the Arch
The Christmas market opens on Eyre Square this week, and there's plenty on around it.
Druid stages 4.48 Psychosis at the Mick Lally Theatre from Wednesday, with Marty Rea performing Sarah Kane's play. On Friday, Going Coastal takes over the Westend for a weekend of West Coast music, with more than 30 artists, DJs and pop-up performances.
Film fans have Generation Fleadh from Wednesday, TULCA opens on Friday with a festival built around fifty years of punk, and Galway TradFest follows on Monday.
This is our pick of what's on in Galway this week. As always for a full event list check out the complete guide.
Let's dive in 👇
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK
4.48 Psychosis
Wednesday 4 to Saturday 7 November · The Mick Lally Theatre, Druid, Flood Street, Galway
Sarah Kane's play comes west from Dublin Theatre Festival with Marty Rea, a Druid Ensemble member, performing and Tom Creed directing. It's radical, intimate and darkly funny, and it takes on despair, lucidity, survival and death. Druid calls it one of the most influential plays of the last thirty years.
Galway Christmas Market
From Friday 6 November · Eyre Square
More than 50 wooden chalets, more than 60 food traders, a 32m observation wheel and a traditional carousel fill Eyre Square. There's also an Après Ski Bar, Santa's Express Train, light gardens and Santa's postbox, and the market runs into December.
Going Coastal
Friday 6 to Sunday 8 November · Multiple Westend venues
A three-day West Coast music and arts weekender with more than 30 artists, DJs, pop-up performances and markets. Friday's opening night at Róisín Dubh has twelve acts across both floors, and Sunday's final event at Áras na nGael features GaelTronica le hArd Éan.
The Mersey Beatles
Tuesday 3 November · 20:00 · Town Hall Theatre, Galway
A Liverpool-born Beatles tribute with an all-new show for 2026, marking 60 years since Revolver.
The Blow In's
Wednesday 4 November · 20:00 · Róisín Dubh, 8 Dominick St Upper, Galway, H91 N4AP, Ireland
Folk and rock from a band hailing from County Kerry.
The Total Stone Roses with Oaysis
Thursday 5 November · Róisín Dubh
Two tribute bands share the night. Oaysis play a set of Oasis hits, and The Total Stone Roses play Stone Roses songs including "I Am The Resurrection" and "Fools Gold".
Project Smok
Friday 6 November · 21:00 · Monroe’s Live
Complete Madness
Saturday 7 November · 19:30 · Róisín Dubh, Galway
Madness hits from the back catalogue, played with all the energy of Suggs and co., plus ska classics from The Specials and Bad Manners.
Music & Art Market
Saturday 7 November · 13:00 · The Blue Note and Massimo
Going Coastal's daytime market mixes live performances with local art. Siobhán Kelleher, Puddle Fish, Emma Lohan and RUST are playing.
Galway TradFest
Monday 9 to Sunday 15 November · Multiple Galway venues
A week of Irish traditional music, song and dance with a focus on young musicians. Concerts, masterclasses, workshops, instrument taster sessions and a session trail are on the programme, along with theatre and showcase chances for emerging musicians.
Hot Mess
Wednesday 4 November · 20:00 · Town Hall Theatre, Galway
Scummy Mummies' Mums' Night Out is a comedy show of songs, sketches and stand-up.
Generation Fleadh 2026
Wednesday 4 to Sunday 8 November · Venues across Galway
Films for cinephiles of all ages, with premieres, previews, retrospectives, shorts and workshops. Pálás Cinema in the Latin Quarter is the main venue.
Launch Night: OXO 2026 (Outset Xmas Open)
Friday 6 November · 18:00 to 21:00 · Outset Gallery, Galway
The Outset Xmas Open starts with a launch night: music from a local DJ and refreshments from the sponsors.
Tulca Festival of Visual Arts: Veruca Salt
Friday 6 to Sunday 22 November · Multiple galleries
TULCA's 24th festival starts from fifty years of punk, treating it as a way of working built on DIY culture and collective action. Exhibitions, film, live performance, sound, writing, talks and workshops run across five galleries, with women-led and countercultural voices throughout.
Outset Xmas Open (OXO) 2026 exhibition
Friday 6 November to Sunday 24 January 2027 · Outset Gallery, Galway
The organisers call it Ireland's largest Christmas exhibition of 2026. It gives local, national and international artists a platform, and last year's edition had 170 works from more than 150 artists.
Women-Led Punk Night: Tulca 2026
Tuesday 10 November · TULCA festival venue
Part of TULCA's punk-themed programme, this night connects contemporary visual art, live performance and women-led punk culture.
Galway Science & Technology Festival
Sunday 8 November · 10:00 to 17:00 · Galway City and County venues
This year's theme is "Water: From Molecule to Ocean", from the H₂O molecule to ocean systems and how water shapes bodies, landscapes, climate and communities. The main exhibition day at the University of Galway campus has experiments, exhibitions, talks, workshops and hands-on activities.
Coldvember
Tuesday 3 to Tuesday 10 November · Blackrock Diving Tower, Salthill, Galway
Students take to the sea at Blackrock Diving Tower every morning in November, and the annual dip raises awareness of the health benefits of cold-water swimming.
For a full overview of all events on this week in Galway check out our event listings page
UNTIL NEXT WEEK
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