Galway International Arts Festival
12–25 Jul 2027 · Galway City
The festival's 50th edition: two weeks of theatre, music, visual art and street spectacle that take over Galway every July.
Clifden
The roads through Connemara all seem to end here, in a small town founded in the early 19th century on the Owenglin River. Come for the light and the empty country around it.
Best sites to see in Clifden
Sky Road
A scenic loop road west of Clifden with elevated views over Clifden Bay, the Atlantic and offshore islands including Inishturk and Turbot Island.
Clifden Castle
The ruined early 19th-century manor house built for John D'Arcy, the founder of Clifden, reached by a short walk west of the town.
Derrigimlagh Bog
The bog south of Clifden where Alcock and Brown landed in 1919 after the first non-stop transatlantic flight, and where Marconi's first commercial transatlantic wireless station operated.
Omey Island
A tidal island near Claddaghduff, just north of Clifden, that can be reached on foot across the sand at low tide.
Where to stand, and when
- Sky Road upper viewpoint: Go in the late afternoon or at sunset for light over Clifden Bay and the islands.
- Clifden Castle gateway and avenue: Morning light suits the castle ruin; frame it through the entrance arch from the lane.
- Clifden harbour and Beach Road: Photograph the town's two church spires across the bay in calm early-morning light.
Clifden through history
Clifden was founded in the early 19th century by John D'Arcy, whose family seat was Clifden Castle west of the town.
Marconi opened his first commercial transatlantic wireless station at Derrigimlagh, near Clifden, in 1907.
In June 1919 aviators John Alcock and Arthur Brown completed the first non-stop transatlantic flight, landing in Derrigimlagh Bog beside the Marconi station.
Clifden is widely regarded as the main town and unofficial capital of Connemara.
Practical tips
- Check tide times before walking out to Omey Island, and allow plenty of time to return before the tide covers the sand.
- The Sky Road is narrow in places, so drive it slowly and use the marked viewpoints rather than stopping on the road.
- Accommodation and restaurants book out quickly in summer, so reserve well ahead for July and August visits.
What's on
Galway Races Summer Festival
26 Jul – 1 Aug 2027 · Ballybrit, Galway
Seven days of summer racing at Ballybrit: the Galway Plate and the Galway Hurdle, famous crowds, and the whole city in festival mode around it.
Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival
24–26 Sep 2027 (dates to be confirmed) · Galway City
The world's oldest oyster festival opens the native oyster season: the World Oyster Opening Championships, a seafood trail through the city's restaurants, and a great deal of stout.