Greetings from Under the Arch
The Galway Folk Festival opens on Wednesday night with Seanchoíche at Monroe's and runs through Sunday across 11 venues and 80-plus acts.
Lloyd Cole is at the Town Hall on Thursday night. The Divine Comedy play Leisureland on Friday. The Scratch close out Saturday night at Monroe's with Briars in support. Dark Tropics are at Róisín Dubh on Thursday. Céilí Afro Dabke Ukraine takes over the Black Box on Saturday, blending African dance, Palestinian Dabke, and Ukrainian folk with Irish céilí.
This is our pick of what's on this week. As always for a full event list check out the link at the bottom of the email.
Let's dive in 👇
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK
The Divine Comedy
Friday 5 June · 19:00 · Leisureland, Salthill
Neil Hannon has been writing orchestral pop songs of particular wit and intelligence since the early 1990s and hasn't slowed down. This Leisureland show is part of the Galway Folk Festival programme and one of the headline acts of the week. He's touring with new material alongside the back catalogue; the catalogue is strong enough that any ratio works.
Lloyd Cole + Ultan Conlon
Thursday 4 June · 19:30 · Town Hall Theatre
Lloyd Cole wrote "Rattlesnakes" in 1984 and has been turning out smart, dry, guitar-based songs ever since. This Town Hall show pairs him with Galway's own Ultan Conlon as support, which is a thoughtful booking. If you like your songwriting literary and unhurried, this is your Thursday evening sorted.
Galway Folk Festival: Seanchoíche
Wednesday 3 June · 20:00 · Monroe's Live
The festival opens at Monroe's with Seanchoíche, a storytelling performance combining spoken word, personal anecdotes, and community dialogue. The 5th Galway Folk Festival runs June 3-7 with 80-plus acts across 11 venues; this is the start of it.
Galway Folk Festival: Fionn Regan + Frankie Archer
Friday 5 June · 19:30 · Monroe's Live
Mercury Prize-nominated folk artist Fionn Regan headlines the second festival night at Monroe's. Frankie Archer opens — fiddle, synths, and samples in a combination that works considerably better than it sounds on paper. One of the stronger bills of the week.
Galway Folk Festival: The Scratch + Briars
Saturday 6 June · 21:00 · Monroe's Live
The Scratch is a Dublin duo with a serious following built in the UK and North America by blending folk, metal, and post-punk into something that sounds like none of those things in isolation. Cork's Briars open. Late-night festival club with Some One's Sons follows. Saturday night at Monroe's done properly.
Dark Tropics
Thursday 4 June · 21:00 · Róisín Dubh · Free
UK pop-noir duo on their debut Irish tour, playing Róisín Dubh for free as part of the UK MEGS export scheme. Rio McGuinness and Gerard Sands. No reason not to go.
Wolves in Ireland
This week · Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street
An exhibition exploring the historical presence of wolves in Ireland through archaeology and folklore. Free to visit at the Galway Arts Centre on Dominick Street.
Céilí Afro Dabke Ukraine
Saturday 6 June · Black Box Theatre · Free, all ages
A world music céilí blending African dance, Palestinian and Syrian Dabke, Ukrainian folk, and Irish céilí. Founded in 2018 to bring cultures together through dance; no experience required, no ticket cost. The Black Box is a good room for exactly this kind of thing.
One Night of Adele
Friday 5 June · Town Hall Theatre
The UK's leading Adele tribute act at the Town Hall. Check the listing for time and ticket details.
Keepers of the Gael
From Sunday 7 June · 10:00 · Galway City Museum, Spanish Parade
A new exhibition at Galway City Museum on the guardians of Gaelic culture and heritage. Free entry; the museum building on Spanish Parade is worth the visit in its own right.
Cruinniú na nÓg
Saturday 6 June · 12:00 · Fr. Burke Park, City Centre
Galway City's Cruinniú na nÓg programme centres on Fr. Burke Park this year with free creative activities for children and young people. Part of Ireland's national creativity day. Check the Galway City arts website for the full programme.
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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