The charming city of Galway on the west coast of Ireland has been selected as European Capital of Culture for 2020, one of the largest cultural events in the world. The year long celebrations of
Galway 2020 centre around themes of language, landscape and migration. The events are from both local creators, and other European artists who imbue the offering with an outsiders’ perspective.
But what’s on offer? The year is broken into four distinct sections: Imbolc, between February and April; Bealtaine, between May and July; Lughnasa, between August and October; and concluding with Samhain, between November and January, each with its own distinctive theme and atmosphere.
The festivities will begin on the evening of Saturday, the 8th of February, 2020, with fiery celebrations invading the streets and squares of Galway. Highlights include
Wild Atlantic Women, which celebrates
International Women’s Day with special guest, author Margaret Atwood. Bealtaine is when the festival really kicks into gear. The
2020 Galway Theatre Festival arrives, as well as
Galway Early Music Festival,
Poetry Matters, the
Film Fleadh and much more.
As the bright nights of summer become hazy autumn days, we move to Lughnasa. And with it, the performances take on an even more creative and expressive lilt, with Cie Carabosse’s
Fire Garden and the high wire acts of
Wire’s Crossed.
Samhain takes place in the darkness of winter, shifting the festival to a more reflective tone. With
Comhaltas celebrating the beauty of Irish culture, NIghthose Studio’s
Unsung pays tribute to the mothers and children that were mistreated by the state between the 18th and 20th Centuries with an immersive light and sound display.
The year’s celebrations will close with
Lumiere Galway transforming the city into a glittering gallery, as the world’s most exciting artists will transform the public spaces of the city with large scale projections, light sculptures, and interactive digital installations.
Are any of our Community members looking forward to Galway 2020?
