As part of its ongoing sustainability drive, Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF ) and its partners are asking people planning to attend this year’s festival to use public transport and active travel where possible.
The festival, which has made huge in-roads in terms of sustainability over the last number of years, is focusing on transport to and around the festival this year.
While walking was the dominant mode of transport at last year’s festival, at a rate of 43%, one in four attendees used a personal car, according to B&A research carried out at the festival last year.
In a bid to help facilitate festival attendees get out of their cars and onto public transport, GIAF has this year teamed up with Travel Partner Bus Éireann on the provision and promotion of bus travel as the sustainable, accessible transport option for GIAF attendees.
Bus Éireann will operate special bus services at midnight and 1am from Galway City to Oranmore and Newcastle on Friday, 19 July to facilitate those travelling home from the Leftfield show in the Heineken Big Top; Saturday, 20 July to facilitate those travelling home from the sold-out Block Rockin Beats show in the Heineken Big Top and Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 July to facilitate those travelling home from the two sold-out Saw Doctors’ shows in the Heineken Big Top.
“Bus Éireann, Ireland’s national bus company, is delighted to be the official travel partner for Galway International Arts Festival this year,” said Brian Connolly, Regional Manager West, Bus Éireann.
“At Bus Éireann, our core purpose is to sustainably connect people and communities, helping to make life better. Bus Éireann is at the heart of the Galway community, employing 262 people in the local area. Galway was the first city to have a 100% hybrid bus fleet since 2022, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the city by at least 30%. With 38 departures each hour at peak times, our city service offers the most sustainable, comfortable travel option throughout Galway City and is the ideal way to travel to events within the Festival. Last year passenger numbers in Galway exceeded 6.4m, increasing 20% on the previous year.”
Bus Éireann recently published its new five-year sustainability strategy. The plan focuses on several key themes, including Climate Action, Environment, Cities and Communities, targeting a doubling of passenger numbers to 178 million and 50% of fleet as zero emission by 2030.
Bus Éireann operates six city services and a range of routes across the county, including Gort, Tuam, Headford, Clifden and key travel hubs, including Shannon Airport. Customers are encouraged to use a TFI Leap Card for best value fares, with children traveling for as little as €0.65, adults €1.55, and student or young adults for €0.80, children under five travel free. Timetables for all routes and real-time information on all departures are available on buseireann.ie
