Galway City Museum invites schools, community groups, and visitors of all ages to celebrate Irish language, literature, and traditional music this March as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge 2026.
From Tuesday 3 to Friday 6 March 2026, the Museum will host a series of complimentary Irish-language and bilingual guided tours, followed by special public events highlighting the life and legacy of celebrated Galway writer Pádraic Ó Conaire and the enduring vitality of Irish traditional music.
Guided tours through Irish
3–6 March 2026
As part of the national Irish-language festival, schools and special-interest groups are invited to explore the Museum’s galleries through Irish. Tours will be led by MacDara Ó Conaola, singer, performer, and native of Inis Oírr. Visitors will encounter objects and stories connected to the Irish language, including the iconic statue of Pádraic Ó Conaire which was sculpted by Albert Power, MacDara’s great grandfather and is now housed at the Museum.
Tour schedule:
Slot 1 at 10:15am is reserved for primary, post-primary, and third-level groups. Slot 2 at 11:30am is reserved for primary, post-primary, and third-level groups. Slot 3 at 1:30pm is open to education groups and other interested groups. Admission is free of charge. Advance booking is required via [email protected] / (091 ) 532460. When booking, groups are asked to indicate their level of Irish and whether they prefer a fully Irish-language or bilingual (Irish/English ) tour.
Bilingual Readings: Scothscéalta le Pádraic Ó Conaire
7 March 2026 | 2:00pm–3:30pm
To further mark Seachtain na Gaeilge 2026, acclaimed actor, writer, and storyteller Diarmuid de Faoite will present a special programme of bilingual readings from the works of Pádraic Ó Conaire.
Moving seamlessly between Irish and English, de Faoite brings Ó Conaire’s writing vividly to life, celebrating one of Ireland’s most important modern literary figures.
Born in Galway in 1882, Ó Conaire began writing in Irish while working as a civil servant in London after joining the Gaelic League. Over the following decades, he became a master of the short story and a leading figure of the Gaelic Revival. After his untimely death in 1928, a memorial statue was unveiled in Eyre Square; it is now preserved at Galway City Museum.
Diarmuid de Faoite has translated Seacht mBua an Éirí Amach (2016 ) and Scothscéalta (2024 ), and edited Rogha Scéalta(2008 ). He is a recipient of the Stewart Parker Trust Award and Duais Aitheantais an Oireachtais for his acclaimed one-man play Pádraic Ó Conaire.
Admission is free of charge. Advance booking is required via [email protected] / (091 ) 532460. Suitable for adults.
Traditional Music Performance
14 March 2026 | 1:00pm–2:00pm The celebrations conclude with a lively traditional music performance from All-Ireland Champions Maureen and Brendan Browne, a sibling duo from the Claddagh, Galway.
Founding members of the award-winning band Back West, the Browne siblings are renowned for their dynamic musicianship on fiddle, vocals, and button accordion. Their albums, The Long Walk (2017 ) and Heritage Hall (2018 ), reflect a rich repertoire rooted in the tradition of the Claddagh.
The programme will include well-known songs such as Galway Bay, The Galway Shawl and The Old Claddagh Ring. Admission is free and all ages are welcome.
Visitors can also enjoy a wide range of exhibitions at the Museum, including An Tír Faoi Thoinn – The Land Beneath the Waves; Surrounded by Stone; Keepers of the Gael; Revolution in Galway, 1913–23; The Galway Hooker; Earth Action; and The Wild Atlantic – Sea Science.
Opening Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00am–5:00pm (galleries close at 4:45pm )
Admission is FREE.
More information: www.GalwayCityMuseum.ie
