Food festivals in Galway worth planning a trip around, by month.
Food festivals in Galway worth planning a trip around, by month.
The Galway International Oyster Festival runs annually in September at Claddagh Basin; founded in 1954, it is the world oldest oyster festival and draws 20,000 visitors to the opening weekend shucking competition.
Focus: Oysters and wild Atlantic seafood
Blas na Bealtaine in May is Galway month-long food festival celebrating local produce; chefs, farmers and producers collaborate in a city-wide programme of tastings, dinners and market specials.
Focus: Irish seasonal produce and artisan food
The Clarenbridge Oyster Festival runs each September in Clarenbridge village 15km south of Galway; celebrating native Clarenbridge oysters, it is the most intimate Wild Atlantic Way oyster event in the area.
Focus: Clarenbridge Native oysters
The Galway International Arts Festival in July includes a food programme with pop-up restaurants and chef collaborations; west-coast producers and visiting chefs come together for a week of city dining events.
Focus: Pop-up dining and food events within the arts programme
JP McMahon Aniar Food Summit gathers Irish and international chefs at Aniar on Dominick Street each October for talks, tastings and collaborations; the summit is the most intellectually serious food event in Connacht.
Focus: Irish food identity, foraging, wild fermentation
The Galway Races in July bring a city-wide food week with restaurant special menus and market pop-ups; race week is when Galway restaurants run their most ambitious tasting menus and the Saturday market peaks.
Focus: Hospitality dining, seafood marquees, Irish beef
The Galway Christmas Market at Eyre Square runs November to December with artisan food stalls, mulled wine and seasonal baked goods; it is the annual showcase for the best Connacht artisan food producers.
Focus: Continental Christmas food, mulled wine, artisan gifts
The Burren Slow Food Festival in Lisdoonvarna each May celebrates Wild Atlantic Way producers; 45km south of Galway, it draws Connacht food producers for the most serious artisan food event in the south Galway region.
Focus: Slow food, foraged ingredients, Burren beef and dairy