Tens of thousands are flocking to the west this week to partake in what is the most ambitious ever Galway International Arts Festival, which got underway on Monday night.
With more venues and events than ever, the Festival has bounced back from the impact of the lockdown to create a mammoth programme giving a welcome boost to city businesses.
Speaking at the opening in the Galmont on Monday night, Festival CEO John Crumlish hailed the number of new venues that are hosting festival events this year and paid tribute to the hundreds of workers and volunteers who make it happen.
For many years, a lack of venues restricted the Festival, but the construction of contemporary new spaces across the city in the coming decade seems set to enable the Festival to cater for an increasing number of patrons.
With more tickets than ever sold for this year's Festival, demand is high this week for the amazing The Pulse at the specially created Kingfisher Theatre and for Bedbound at the specially amended Bailey Allen Hall, both at the University of Galway.
Tickets for the Saw Doctors concert at the Festival Big Top sold out within minutes of going on sale months ago, but thousands of fans are expected to travel to the city tomorrow night to partake in the atmosphere of the first of their two Big Top gigs.
Launching the festival, actor Colm Meaney and his daughter Brenda, who star in Bedbound, praised the Galway International Arts festival, for not only hosting events, but for creating an environment in Galway to inspire new works by up and coming artists and writers.
