BRITTANY FEST Galway 2025 comes to a close this weekend with a series of gigs and music events, culminating in a show from leading Galway trad-folk band Galvian Way.
This Saturday, May 17, Celtic music fans are in for a treat with the Trad and Breton Session Trail, featuring performances from Irish and Breton musicians. It starts at 5.30pm at Taaffes and Ti Coili, before moving to The Crane Bar for 9pm.
Irish and Breton trad music continues on Sunday, May 18, the final day of Brittany Fest Galway 2025, with a Ceili and Breton Workshop at 1pm in the Rowing Club, Woodquay, hosted by sean-nós singer Traolach Ó Conghaile. At the same venue at 8pm there will be a trad session with the Sliabh Aughty Ceili Band. Admission is free for both events.
Brittany Fest Galway 2025 officially closes with a gig from Galvian Way in The King’s Head at 6pm.
The band - Seosamh Ó Fátharta (accordion ), Maidhc Ó hÉanaigh (flute ), Mick Clancy (bouzouki ), Paul McClure (bodhrán ), Declan Corey (Mandolin ), Ger Clancy (fiddle ) - originally came together in the summer of 2022, for a commemorative concert celebrating the twinning of Lorient and Galway.
It quickly became apparent that their fusion of styles – Connemara, Clare, and Ulster – gave birth to something special, with the result being energetic, dynamic and contemporary Irish music.
Since then, they have performed at the prestigious Festival Interceltique de Lorient in 2023 and 2024, becoming the first Irish band in over two decades to take home the coveted Loic Raison Award in 2023.
Treasure hunt
A digital treasure hunt involving Breton Leprechauns, storytelling time, dancing in the streets, and an exhibition are all part of the family fun events at Brittany Fest Galway 2025.
The event marks the 50th anniversary of Galway's twinning with Lorient in 1975. Fun events for children and families are planned to inspire the next generation to appreciate the cultural and historic links between the two regions.
The big event is the Digital Treasure Hunt running throughout the Festival (12th - 18th May ). Children can pretend to be a Breton pirate who has mocked the Korrigans (little Breton spirits, cousins of the Irish Leprechauns ) and made them angry.
As punishment, the Korrigans have sent a magical fog to keep you trapped in Galway. You will have to explore the city centre’s historic sights in order to gather 10 clues that will allow you to find your way back to a ship and, eventually, home in Brittany, but help is at hand from Ireland’s own pirate queen, Gráinne Mhaol.
The treasure hunt will allow children to learn about Galway’s history and also about Breton culture. The game, developed by FLAM Galway, can be downloaded via https://linktr.ee/bavart.
Further fun, and another chance for children to enjoy Breton culture, comes with the Celtic and Breton Tales and songs event at Galway City Library on Saturday, May 17, from 11am to 1pm.
Stay in town that day for Cercle Brizeux Lorient, the traditional dance group which will give a free dance display on Shop Street from 2pm, wearing historical Breton costumes.
Children can also enjoy a taste of Breton sailing and its maritime culture with free visits to le Biche, the historic sailing vessel, in Galway Harbour. The free public visits are from May 12 to May 17, from 10am to 3pm.
Families can also enjoy the Galway-Lorient 50th Anniversary Exhibition at Galway Museum, retracing 50 years of exchanges and friendships between Galway and Lorient. The exhibition runs throughout the festival.
See Galway-lorient.eu and social media. For events involving Le Biche, book via www.gbsc.ie/lebiche
