Oh it is a tough time of the year. The sun has gone on its annual vacation to another part of the planet. Temperatures are dropping fast, the rain is beating down, and the wind is howling, and it just feels like there is doom and gloom with nothing to do around Galway.
Well that is where you are wrong. November might be a dreadful time for weather in Galway but the schedule lined up in the city and county is still jam packed with lots of interesting festivals and events to attend. You don't believe us here at the advertiser.ie? Then have a look at the following must attend events in Galway which will lift the doom and gloom of November.
TULCA Festival of Visual Art (November 1 to 17 )
Now entering its 17th year, the TULCA Festival of Visual Art has been promoting Galway city and county as hub for artists and audiences of the visual arts community. With a mission statement of provoking, inspiring, and evolving, the Galway festival is the only festival in Ireland to specifically commission Irish curators who develop a theme unique to the event.
Covering a range of topics and discussions, exhibitions take place in both gallery and non-gallery spaces including visual arts trail through the streets of Galway as well as guided tours, talks, seminars, and workshops.
The theme of this year's festival is Tactical Magic which will curated by Kerry Guinan. Taking inspiration from west of Ireland folklore, Tactical Magic will explore the subject of magic as valuable, intuitive practice, worthy of preservation in a secularising society. Comprising 15 contemporary artists, four specifically commissioned projects, and 12 associated events across 14 venus in Galway, events range from an all-ages Weather-Reading workshop with Nikita Coulter in Nuns Island Theatre to a black-metal-noise performance by the Bogs of Aughiska in the Roisin Dubh.
TULCA’s main festival gallery will be centrally located in the former An Post sorting facility off William Street, recently refurbished into an exhibition space by Galway International Arts Festival, and events are free to attend. For more information visit www.tulca.ie
Connacht Rugby
Are you looking for entertainment in Galway? Then why not grab yourself a ticket for a match at the Sportsground to watch Connacht Rugby. With three matches during November, those who have become addicted to the sport after watching the 2019 Rugby World Cup will be able to sate their desires with a live match.
With the ground located only 1km away from Eyre Square, match goers can soak up the fun and atmosphere which game day generates around the city, and November will see plenty of excitement as Guinness Pro14 champions and inter-provincial rivals Leinster, megabucks Montpellier, and South African Southern Kings come to the west of Ireland.
And even if you cannot get a ticket for the 8,000 seater stadia, pubs around the town will be packed out with those not lucky enough to be inside the Sportsground so the craic is just as good. For tickets head to wwww.connachtrugby.ie for one of the top things to do in Galway.
Connacht v Leinster - Friday November 8 (7.35pm ).
Connacht v Montpellier - Sunday November 17 (1pm ).
Connacht v Southern Kings - Saturday November 30 (5.15pm ).
Galway Science & Technology Festival (November 11 to 24 )
Launched in 1998, Galway Science & Technology Festival has thrilled, inspired, educated, and instilled a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM ) in all ages. Running from 11-24 November the festival will see workshops and shows in over 200 schools throughout the city and county.
Public events include a Superhero talk at An Pálás, Baking in Space in the Black Box and renowned climate activist and author Andri Magnason will give a public talk on climate change. The annual exhibition takes place at NUI Galway on Sunday 24th November (exhibition tickets released on Saturday 16th November ). For more information visit www.galwayscience.ie Galway Continental Christmas Market (November 15 to December 22 )
It may only be November but Galway Continental Christmas Market kicks off on Friday 15 to get everyone into the yuletide spirit after Halloween. Having received more than 650,000 visitors last year, the market celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2019 and will have the Après Ski Bar, Santa’s Express Train, live music performances and community events will feature.
Foodies can sample European cuisine including bratwurst, French pastries, pretzels, and crêpes and waffles. And if beer is your thing, a stein at the German Bierkeller will hit the spot.
For more information see https://www.facebook.com/ChristmasMarketGalway/.
Galway Food, Craft, and Gift Fair (November 30 to December 1 )
For food and drink in Galway during November why not visit the Black Box Theatre at the end of the month to sample the annual Food, Craft, and Gift Fair,
Held over two days and presented by Local Enterprise Office Galway, locals and visitors can check out a wide range of food, drinks, and craft gifts including jams, cakes, cheeses, microbrews, jewellery, and leather goods. It is perfect for the family with admission free.
