Best of the Summer Festivals in Galway

Galway is known as Ireland's Festival City and is currently bidding for European Capital of Culture 2020. The wealth of spectacle and magical events is embroidered in the very fabric of Galway. From toddlers to centenarians, everyone who lives in Galway has been involved, participated in and experienced at least one of our many festivals. Some of our favourites include:

The Galway Sessions which takes place over a week in June and showcases taditional Irish music with visiting celtic friends from Scotland and the rest of Ireland. Enjoy toe tapping music with talented musicians in great Irish pubs.

Currach Racing - row, row, row your boat along the Wild Atlantic Way! There are a host of traditional rowing boat races around Galway in the summer months from The Spiddal Currach & Hooker Regatta (Feile Curachai agus Báid Seoil an Spideal) over June Bank Holiday weekend to the Roundstone Regatta in July. The Roundstone Regatta is one that dates back to the 1890s and incorporates both currach racing and traditional sailing vessels of the West Coast (Galway hookers, leath bháid and gleoiteógs) as well as family entertainment.

The Galway Film Fleadh is one of Ireland's longest running film festivals and was instrumental in the city becoming one of only five UNESCO Cities of Film in the world. The festival takes place during the second week in July and has welcomed many hollywood stars, successful movie and TV stars as well as budding writers, actors and producers. We love the Pop-Up Cinemobile!

Now in its 38th Year, the imaginative and magical Galway International Arts Festival delivers extraordinary experiences throughout the cobbled streets of Galway! Past performances have included multi award–winning theatre companies such as Druid, Northlight Theatre, The Royal National Theatre, Propeller and the Bristol Old Vic. Captivating dance has inspired audiences from the Fabulous Beast Dance Company and the Hofesh Shechter Dance Company amongst others. Big Top festival fun and intimate gigs abound including artists such as Primal Scream, David Gray, Brad Mehldau, Blondie, Kronos Quartet, Bon Iver, Joni Mitchell and St Vincent. Whether you are looking for blisteringly funny comedy or world premieres of theatre, join the thousands of people that descend on Galway for a whirlwind two weeks of theatre, music, comedy, street performers and a few surprises.

The Galway Races - think style, dining, fun, fashion and heart stopping finishes ... running strong for seven whole days. A local's favourite is Monday night at the Races with fantastic atmosphere and plenty of entertainment. We will be there in force on Thursday 28th July for Ladies Day as the g Hotel & Spa are sponsors of the Best Dressed Lady and Best Hat competitions .. all before the Apres Racing party at the g!

At the end of August, the annual celebration of our traditional sailing vessels 'Galway Hookers' takes place in Kinvara, 30 minutes south of Galway City. The 'Cruinniú na mBád' festival remembers a time before electricity - when the majestic Galway Hookers sailed between Connemara and Kinvara laden with turf for the locals to use as fuel. Each August at this festival in Kinvara, you will see some vessels that are over 150 years old, others newly built. Many of the families who sail the hookers have been doing so for generations.

For more information and hotel deals in Galway - See www.theghotel.ie 

 

Christmas in Galway

December is here and everyone is busy decorating trees, planning nights out with friends and time with family. Christmas really is a magical time of year with glittering fairy lights brightening up dark nights and cheerful tunes bringing a smile or two. In Galway we have welcomed back the Christmas Market on Eyre Square and now have a market at Spanish Arch with crafts on display and antique children's carousel. Storm Desmond has passed overhead and our festive spirit is out in force.

At the g Hotel & Spa our Christmas Party nights are being enjoyed to the full and the popoular Console Christmas Lunch is already booked for 2016. With 18 days to Christmas, the season really is in full swing. We hope to welcome you to the g Hotel this year, whether for Festive Afternoon Tea at just €44 for two guests and €14 per child or for coctails in our

Signature Lounges. We have seven Chritmas trees shining bright and covered in ribbons and baubles. Our team are in the Christmas spirit and don't surprise to hear a carol or two. In fact we have two very special choirs joining us for in the Grand Salon. Join our guest Christmas Carollers who will fill the Signature Lounges with songs of the season on the following dates:

• Saturday 12th December - 3pm to 4pm - Mervue Children's Choir
• Sunday 13th December - 3pm to 4pm - Something to Sing About Choir

Our Festive Afternoon Tea is the perfect Christmas present or perhaps an indulgent gift from the 2015 ESPA Christmas gift collection. Our team are on hand to assist you in selecting your Christmas gifts from spa vouchers to winter escapes. See our Christmas gift collection for more details.

Whether it’s gorgeous gourmet or gingerbread galore – we recommend that you book the Christmas Afternoon Tea at the g well in advance to ensure availability of your preferred date. To book email eat@theg.ie or call 091 865200.

10th Birthday Celebrations at the g Hotel & Spa

Throughout the month of November, we are celebrating 10 years in business at the g Hotel & Spa in Galway. We have a host of events and offers available to our loyal guests and are very grateful to every guest that has stayed or dined with us, our wonderful local Irish suppliers and our hard working team. We hope you will join in the celebrations.

RESTAURANT gigis TASTING NIGHT
Fri 27th Nov - 10 course Tasting Menu celebrating each year of culinary delights at the g from 2005-2015. Price €75.00. TO BOOK eat@theg.ie

COCKTAIL FEST
November will be filled with weekly specials, masterclasses, signature drinks and meet the maker evenings. Live music every Friday & Saturday from 9pm-11pm with the Supernova's & Mike Corbett.
Our Masterclasses will be hosted by David Dillon and guests may book in advance by emailing drinks@theg.ie - just €10pp in celebration of our 10th Birthday.

Wednesday 11th November – Whiskey Wednesday
Bringing the world's most magical spirit to life - the g Hotel & Spa invites you to discover the attributes and appreciate the nose and taste of a trio of whiskeys. You will also learn about distillation and how each whiskey is distilled, barrelled and bottled. The masterclass will be hosted by Food & Beverage Manager at the g Hotel & Spa, David Dillon, a whiskey expert who honed his craft in top establishments both in Ireland and Scotland.

Wednesday 18th November – Wednesday Wine
The g Hotel & Spa offers a diverse list of unique, high quality wines from around the globe. Wine flights are a fun way to explore regions, varietals, and styles of wine-making. During the masterclass you will enjoy a selection of three wines. Join us to taste and compare the three wines specially selected by our Food & Beverage Manager, David Dillon.

DESIGNER AFTERNOON TEA
Limited edition with mouth-watering delicacies, each with a fashionable twist inspired by master milliner and Design Director of the g Hotel & Spa – Philip Treacy. €44 for two guests and advance booking advised. To book email eat@theg.ie or Call 091 865200.

ESPA GIFTS
10% savings on gift sets - Purchase your Christmas gift set from ESPA at the g Luxury spa before 26th November and receive espa@theg.ie
10% savings on your purchase. Contact our ESPA professionals on 091 778460 or email

WEDDINGS
Book your 2016 midweek wedding during our 10th birthday month of November and receive 10% savings. T&Cs apply - email Rachel on weddings@theg.ie for more details.

MEETINGS
Book your 2016 meeting for 10 guests or more during our 10th birthday month of November and receive 10% savings on your main meeting room dining requirements. Contact our team on meetings@theg.ie for more information.

Halloween in Galway

Planning a Halloween or mid term break in Galway? Have a spooktacular time at the g Hotel & Spa.

Monster Mash Party 

Gather your friends and join us for a spooky night of ghastly delights and spine-chilling frolics on Friday 30th October. Find your inner demon and dress up for Croi at The Monster Mash Party – tickets just €30 per person. The evening will be packed wall-to-wall with creative costumes, tantalising cocktails, terror-ific entertainment and fiendish fun. Let your imagination run riot from the wild to the wonderful with masks, gowns, wigs & blood – anything goes! TO BOOK https://www.croi.ie/MONSTERMASH 

Macnas Parade

The annual Macnas Halloween parade will take place on Sunday 25th October at 5.30pm.  Macnas will be celebrating 30 years next year and they never fail to create a stunning spectacle of  street-hopping, traffic-stopping performances including a host of giants, over 300 scampering performers, bespoke costumes and live music – consistently attracting thousands of locals & visitors

alike. Everyone is encouraged to dress up in masks, glitter, feathers, DIY costumes and whatever helps celebrate the surreal, the off-beat and the unexpected. The parade takes a similar route each year and starts at Fisheries Field – Eglinton Street – Shop Street – High Street – Quay Street – Spanish Arch – Fr. Griffin
Rd (fire station). This year’s Macnas Parade is entitled ‘The Shadow Lighter’ and it celebrates transformation, life, death and rebirth.

Galway Aboo Halloween Festival

The Galway Aboo Halloween Festival takes place in the medieval streets of Galway’s Latin Quarter on Saturday 24th, Sunday 25th and Saturday 31st of October 2015. It is the country’s largest Halloween Festival and plays host to a number of activities and free events promising to be frightfully good fun for all ages. A full line-up of events for the Galway Aboo Hallowe'en Festival will be announced shortly.

Whether you are planning a ghoulish gathering or Halloween haunt – join us at the g Hotel & Spa in Galway – it is sure to be a scream!

Photos by Julia Dunin Photography

ESPA at the g Highly Commended at Irish Tatler Spa Awards 2015

We are delighted to announce that one of our ESPA at the g therapists, Jinkeer Kaur was Highly Commended at this year's Irish Tatler Spa Awards. We are delighted for Jin and our entire team are very proud of the continual acheivement of ESPA at the g - having won gold for Best Hotel Spa last year and Highly Commended for our ESPA Fitness Massage, it is fantastic to see all our dedication and belief in wellness be recognised. We thought we'd introduce you to some of our ESPA team, starting with the lovely Jin:

What makes the perfect spa treatment?

A perfect spa treatment should take you on a journey of relaxation and me-time from start to finish. At ESPA at the g we focus on the needs of our guests ensuring they feel special and pampered. For your chosen treatment itself; whether you have selected a facial or massage you should feel utterly at ease and tranquil throughout the experience.  Overall, your chosen treatment should deliver results and you should feel that it was an experience worth taking time out for and ideally that you want to come back to repeat!

 

What separates the g from other spas?

Firstly, the level of professionalism amongst our ESPA at the g team who are all incredibly passionate and committed.  We all work together to continually improve our level of professionalism throughout the spa and the experience of our guests’.  Secondly the quality of products used is exceptional – ESPA are world leaders in spa design and products and all of our treatments use completely natural ingredients.  Thirdly is the ongoing training we receive from ESPA which is of a very high standard.

What's your favourite thing about being a therapist?

The satisfaction when my guest enjoys their treatment is top on my list.  My favourite is when a guest remarks that it felt like 'heaven'! When I can follow up on this great experience and guide them through an aftercare program then I really know I have helped them to achieve long term benefits.

What's your favourite thing about the g Hotel & Spa?

The g Hotel & Spa is located in Galway city which I love, it is a thriving city that feels like a village and we are the only 5 star destination spa in the area which makes me proud to be a part of the team. It was designed by Philip Treacy, the famous milliner who was from a tiny village near to Galway city which really gives it the wow factor and then guests come into ESPA and they forget they are even in a hotel. The management encourage us to use our initiative and I feel that if you want to advance into a higher position then we are given you the opportunity to do so.

What's your favourite spa treatment?

A massage is always my favourite treatment.  Here at ESPA at the g, Chakra Balancing would be my favourite. It is our signaturetreatment and loved by our guests. It focuses on rebalancing the seven chakras that affect the mind and body given you a deep sense of wellbeing from within. Starting off with skin brushing, body exfoliation and a facial cleanse you will then enjoy a full body massage using individually chosen essential oils and hot stones as well as a soothing head massage. This treatment has previously won ‘Best Body Treatment’ at the Irish Tatler Spa Awards and was the one I gave their secret inspector during this year’s judging process.

What's your top tip for anyone going on their first spa break?

 First of all, do spend some time and look up the spa menu to know what treatment you think you will enjoy

most.  Speak with the team on booking and ask lots of questions as it is important you select what suits you best at that moment in time. Always book in advance as most spas are extremely popular availability can go quickly. When you have your treatment booked, we always recommend that you allow plenty of time before and after your treatment to enjoy the facilities.  A spa treatment is not just about your treatment time with your therapist; it's about relaxation before and after your actual treatment time – all part of what we call your ‘Spa Journey’ at ESPA at the g. All of our 55 minute ESPA treatments include an hour in our Thermal Suite beforehand which is the perfect start to your spa experience at the g. The Thermal Suite includes a vitality pool which features a number of water jets providing either gentle or vigorous massage. We also have a crystal steam-room, rock sauna, ice showers and heated tepidarium loungers which are ideal for relaxing your muscles prior to treatment.

How are you celebrating your award?

We enjoyed a lovely lunch with Irish Tatler and I took the next few days off to relax and take it all in. I am very grateful to my Manager, Elaine O’Shea and the g Hotel & Spa for having such confidence in me and Irish Tatler for the recognition of the award. I am truly delighted and have just been promoted to Senior Therapist at ESPA at the g so look forward to working with our team over the coming months.

For more information on ESPA at the g, please contact our highly trained ESPA team on espa@theg.ie or +353 91 778460. Our ESPA Treatment brochure may be viewed here.