- Galway Races (late July to early August, main racing days into early August): Ireland’s biggest horse racing festival features world-class racing, fashion (including Ladies Day earlier in the week), live music, entertainment, and family activities. It blends sport, style, and vibrant social atmosphere.
- Ballygar Carnival (around early August/Bank Holiday weekend, Ballygar): Ireland’s longest-running family carnival (82nd edition) offers music, dancing, Murray’s Funfair, shows, hikes, lectures, arts & crafts, a Fair Day market, and community events for all ages.
- Clifden Community Arts Week (dates in August): A creative festival in Clifden showcasing visual arts, music, theatre, and community performances in the heart of Connemara. (Dates typically mid-August; confirm locally.)Other local summer festivals and markets
- Galway Pride Week (2–8 August, Galway City): One of Ireland’s longest-running Pride events celebrates queer joy, resistance, and community with parades (notably the Pride Parade on 8 August), arts, performances, live music, discussions, family-friendly activities, and parties. Inclusive with sober/low-sensory options.
- Cruinniú na mBád (Gathering of the Boats) (around 8–9 August, Kinvara): Traditional Galway Hooker regatta with boat races, gatherings (up to 100 boats), traditional Irish music sessions, kids’ activities, and harbour festivities.
- Galway Traditional Boat Festival / Claddagh Regatta (15–16 August, The Claddagh, Galway City): Showcases traditional Irish boats like Galway Hookers (Bád Mór, Gleoiteog, etc.) and currachs with sailing, racing, and maritime heritage celebrations in Galway Bay.
- Connemara Pony Show (18–21 August, Clifden): The world’s largest showcase of Connemara ponies (101st year) features jumping championships, in-hand/ridden/working hunter classes, parades, dog shows, Irish dancing, domestic arts, and more—celebrating the breed’s talent and history.
- National Heritage Week (15–23 August, events nationwide including Galway): Focus on the theme ‘Heritage At Risk’ with free or low-cost events at sites like Galway City Museum, Kylemore Abbey, and others—exploring local history, culture, and preservation through tours, talks, and activities.
- Other August events include concerts (e.g., A Place to Bury Strangers on 29 August at Róisín Dubh), theatre, quizzes, comedy screenings, author talks (e.g., Sebastian Barry), and smaller gigs or markets.
Happening
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Ireland’s County Galway:
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Breweries & Distilleries – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted– Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury– MICE – Movies – Music – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist –Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
