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Activities - Festivals, Sports and Beaches
The Cuckoo Fleadh
Fleadh na gCuach (The Cuckoo Fleadh), a hugely enjoyable and successful traditional music and community based arts festival, going from success to success
The Cuckoo Festival takes place on the May bank holiday weekend in the beautiful, scenic village of Kinvara, County Galway.
A well-established and richly deserved reputation has ensured that the fleadh has become a showcase for the best in traditional music, attracting musicians from all over the country and beyond.
See the Kinvara website for info.
Cruinniu na mBád
Being a seaport, Kinvara has always looked to the sea, and the main "workhorse" for transport and fishing were the Galway Hookers, traditional red-sailed, black hulled timber boats, which plied their trade from Connemara, on the far coast, to Kinvara and its environs. These boats are now commemorated every year in August with the famous Cruinniu na mBád festival, which means "gathering of the boats" in Irish. This attracts many restored boats, and is a unique opportunity to see these magnificient craft in all their glory.
For more info, try the Galway Hooker website.
Galway Arts Festival
Galway Arts Festival is the defining cultural expression of Galway and is at the heart of all aspects life in the city.
Over its 31 year history the Festival has become a vital showcase for Irish arts and international arts and is now firmly established as Ireland’s leading arts festival. The Festival collaborates with artists and companies throughout the world to initiate, commission and produce new work.
Regarded as one of Europe’s key cultural events Galway Arts Festival is an international celebration of the performing and visual arts. Over 100,000 people attend the Festival annually with hundreds of writers, artists, performers and musicians creating theatre, spectacle, street art, music, comedy, literature and music to produce a stunning fortnight of cultural activity and celebration.
"The biggest, most exciting, most imaginative explosion of arts activity this country has..."
The Irish Times
Gaway Arts Festival website
Galway Races
"Adrenalin-pumping action, heart-stopping finishes and breath-taking fashion; you are at the Galway Races. Situated on the outskirts of Galway city, in the West of Ireland, the Galway Race Festivals are world renowned."
Galway Races website
Burren Walks
With its beautiful, unspoilt landscape,and gentle slopes, the Burren is an ideal place for hillwalking, and is the best way to fully appreciate this unique terrain. Guides are readily available.
Gort Golf Club
Designed by Ryder Cup star, Christy O' Connor Junior, and officially opened in August 1996, Gort Golf Club is an 18 Hole Championship Golf Course, set in 160 acres of picturesque parkland on the edge of the world famous Burren.
www.gortgolf.com website
Lahinch Golf Club
Lahinch Golf Club is frequently referred to as “the St. Andrew’s of Ireland” because of its close proximity and interaction with the local village. The links is situated on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The combination of bracing air and wind from the sea is one of the enduring attractions for golfers who ply their skills on two magnificent championship courses – the Old Course measuring 6950 yards and the Castle Course, measuring 5556 yards.
Tracht Beach
Tracht Beach is our local beach, a few miles from the village. It is a Blue Flag beach, with parking area, toilets and picnic tables, and life-guards on duty during the summer months.
Fanore Beach
A beautiful beach, noted for its edible seaweed. Some authorities hold that the name comes from Fán Óir, meaning golden slope of beach.. Close to the heart of the Burren area, which can be fascinating for the botanist, zoologist, archeologist and geologist to explore. Aloha Surf School runs surfing lessons for all ages and abilities. www.surfschool.tv .From Ballyvaughan take R477 westward for 12km. Nearest village is Ballyvaughan. Grid Ref. M137085. Lifeguard cover weekends in June and daily in July and August.