Galway gears up for Climate Festival 2025 as music, games and workshops announced
The second annual Galway Climate Festival is upon us and the Town of the Tribes is gearing up for five days of talks, workshops, music and activities.
Taking place from Wednesday September 10 to Sunday September 14, the public is invited to come together “for an inspiring celebration of climate action, creativity, and collective hope”.
Here are some of the highlights from this year’s festival:
Human: Nature – Audio/Visual Experience
Running from September 10 to September 14, this immersive experience exhibition will draw you into multi-dimensional world.
The event will take place in Eyre Square from 11am to 7pm where you will experience “3D spatial audio, real-time plant biofeedback, and visual controlled by the nature around you”.
This piece is brought by award winning light and visual artist Natural Symphony and will be free to visit.
The Galway Arts Centre is hosting this exhibition starting September 10.
Artist Paula McCloskey, ‘The 9 Freedoms for the Air’ - ‘The Air We Share’. PHOTO: Mark Stedman
A series of works from a year-long artist residency, this group exhibition explores air quality and climate conditions hyper-local to the Westside of Galway City.
As part of the project, sensors detecting and measuring particulate matter in the air were placed around Galway City in 2023 to provide data for Galway City Council’s climate policies. Artists will highlight the shifts and goals of future climate action through the culture and dialogue happening on the Westside making the “invisible visible” according to the website.
This project is funded the Creative Climate Action Fund.
Ireland response to Extreme Weather Events – Talk
This event is taking place at the Mick Lally Theatre on Thursday, September 11 from 10am to 11.30am.
Timmy Dooley, Minister of State for Climate, Energy, and Environment, and Fiona Holland, Senior Engineer with Galway City Council, will discuss Galway’s response to Storm Éowyn.
They’ll be joined by Professor Kristina Blennow, agricultural scientist, who will share how Sweden adapted after Storm Gudrun in 2005, and Dr Conor Quinlan, EPA Climate Change Programme Manager, who will highlight how Ireland can assess risks and take proactive action against extreme weather.
This event offers timely insights into how Ireland is responding to more frequent and intense storms, and how cities can prepare for the future.
This event is free however, booking is required.
On Saturday, September 13, join the fun and games at Father Burke Park on the Westend.
The park will host a series of live music, talks, food, dancing, and workshops for “climate-conscious fun”.
Music will be on from 11am to 7pm while local food and games will take place throughout the day. In the gazebo, workshops will include: experience the sounds of climate change; cyanotype workshop; creative 3D flood mapping.
Head over to the Galway City Museum on Saturday, September 13 from 10.30am to 12.30pm for a hands-on mending workshop.
The workshop will teach you the basics in hand sewing and repair techniques for the longevity of the clothing in your closet. With the materials provided, you will learn how to repair worn areas, patch holed, and fix seams.
To book, email museum@galwaycity.ie.
Playful Streets and Second-Hand Market
This free event on Sunday, September 14, welcomes kids and adults to a car-free zone down Middle Street.
From 11am to 5pm, a series of playful activities will take place to get families outside, including face painting, live music, vintage and second-hand market stalls, trad, and street games.
For further information about becoming a trader in the market or helping out, email info@milestoneinventive.com.
Meitheal: Ag obair le chéile ar mhaithe leis an tuiscint, caomhnú agus cosaint ar son na haeráide – Talk
This Irish speaking event highlights research being conducted throughout the Gaeltacht area and specifically at the Mace Head atmospheric research station in Carna and Cois Fharraige in Connemara.
A panel will discuss the unique role the Irish-speaking community in fighting climate change. A trad session and networking opportunity will be conducted following the discussion.
This event will take place at An Taibhdhearc on Sunday, September 14 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm.
Adapting your Business to Climate Change – Talk
The Chamber of Commerce is set to host a discussion between Dr Ceva Slevin and Paula Kearney on the benefits for adapting business towards climate change.
This will include both theory and application as well as financing information towards the shift in marketplaces around the country.
This event takes place on Friday, September 12 at 10am. All local business are invited and can register here.
Adapting your Business to Climate Change
Late Night with Natural Symphony, Lolz, and FrontLeft
On Friday, September 12 from 10om to 2.30am The Space at Electric in Galway City will be hosting a night to remember.
From the creator of the Human: Nature exhibit displayed in Eyre Square comes a dazzling night of electronic music and audio visuals. In partnership with two renowned DJ’s the evening is set to blend late-night bops with climate change highlights.
Tickets are €15 and can be purchased here.