Galway City’s New Year’s Eve Family Festive Féile was back for the second year in a row with an excellent range of live music in the City Centre and free family friendly events for all the family including the poignant toll of the St Nicholas Collegiate Church bells for a New Year’s Eve Countdown.
Families from across Galway city, county and the rest of Ireland bid farewell to 2024 and a Céad Míle Fáilte to 2025 with a New Year’s Eve of free family friendly events and excellent livestreet entertainment.
Renowned world wide for street entertainment, music, culture and the arts, Galway City shared a series of live musical interludes and events at St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church and on Cross Street in the Latin Quarter while the Bash Brothers Drumming Band roamed the cobbled streets of Galway from 6pm creating a fun, festive atmosphere with their high energy performances and lively entertainment for all age groups.
The Galway International Retro Orchestra, GIRO kicked off the evening at 6pm on Galway’s New Years Eve Stage at Cross Street in the Latin Quarter. Formed in 2011, GIRO features fun traditional music with the unique collaboration with Japanese traditional céilí drummer, Yuri Kitagawa.
The Screaming Blue Cats with lively Rockabilly and Rock ‘n’ Roll were live from the magical environs of the famous St Nicholas Collegiate Church also at 6pm. At 8pm or 8 bells, the poignant bells of St Nicholas’s tolled for all in Galway City.
It was a magical moment in which people reflected on the year that was and commenced the countdown to midnight and a brand new year.
At 7.30pm on Cross Street, families and visitors enjoyed the sounds of singer, artist and mom, Barbara Vulso who was followed by the Vixen and the Cool Cats at 8.45pm. Big Band Swing with John Conneely was live from St Nicholas Collegiate Church at 7.30pm until 9.00pm
The Galway New Year’s Eve Family Festive Féile was created with the focus on families for a safe, free, family friendly New Year’s Evening in Galway City for Galwegians, visitors and tourists.Under the umbrella of Galway City Council’s on going efforts and creative initiatives to enhanceGalway City’s thriving and diverse night time economy, this event aims to bring families to the cityearly to savour the new year’s evening before enjoying further family time at home for those withyoung children.
Chief Executive of Galway City Council, Leonard Cleary said that it showcased the excellent culture and musical talent in Galway and Galway City’s commitment to providing safe and enjoyable entertainment and experiences for people of all ages, especially young families.
"We were delighted to welcome visitors and families to celebrate the end of 2024 with us while looking forward to a new year and 2025," he concluded.
