2025 Programme
Thursday 20 March
Mindfulness with Cristina Insights
Liv Vintage Studios - 4.00 - 5.30 pm
The best way to start Love Festival Galway with an open heart and joyful vibes!!
Combining different techniques as breath work, psychology and energetics and others, this unique experience is made to create, explore and expand love and enjoy a healthier life.
Cristina Lopez Villa @cristina_insights in Instagram is a public speaker, an optimistic philanthropist, holistic healer, and heartfelt artist.
Tickets available from Liv Vintage
Launch party
The Quays Bar - 6.00 to 8.00pm
With live music from Mouse and the Traps, a launch speech by Deputy Mayor Niall McNeilis and fabulous prize giveaways, this launch is not to be missed! Fancy dress is highly encouraged as party goers are invited to compete in a Best Dressed James and Nora Competition, with luxury hampers from our local business sponsors for the winners!
Free of charge
Friday 21st
International Nora Barnacle Day
This year Grá festival is announcing the 21st of March as International Nora Barnacle Day. We invite you to celebrate her memory on her 141st birthday.
And if you’d like to dress up as her (or James Joyce!), you just might win so fantastic prizes!
The Poem Line
Neachtains - 12.00 - 2.00 pm
Caoimhe Lavelle will recite a poem especially for you live over the phone from ‘Nora’s Snug’ in Neachtains. The hotline number will be shared online and in Neachtains.
Portraits by Jim Cogan
Get yourself drawn by the great Jim Coogan, (or duet with your beloved or BFF!)
Both free of charge
Readings from Rathgar Odyssey and Joyce County
Town Hall Theatre - 3.30 - 4.00pm
Take in a literary ramble with Mike Quinn and Ray Burke. Quinn will read from “Rathgar Odyssey”, a reflective, poetic exploration of Rathgar and Galway, produced in collaboration with Joe Boske, and Ray Burke will read from ‘Joyce County’, his fascinating and extensive examination of Joyce and Galway.
Free of charge. Both books will be available for purchase from Charlie Byrne’s Pop-Up.
Nuala O’Connor Reads from her book ‘Nora’
Gallery Bar of the Town Hall Theatre - 4.00 - 4.30pm
A very special reading from Nuala O'Connor, the best-selling novelist of ‘Nora’, which brilliantly brings to life the greatest literary love story ever told; James and Nora, through the eyes of Nora Barnacle herself.
Free of charge. ‘Nora’ will be available to purchase from Charlie Byrne’s Pop-Up.
The Musical Worlds of James Joyce
with Barry McGovern and Benjamin Dwyer
Main Stage, The Town Hall Theatre 5.00 pm
We are delighted to bring you this specially curated event of spoken word, song, and guitar music, which will celebrate songs and music in James Joyce’s Ulysses, Chamber Music, The Dead, and Finnegans Wake, among other texts. Performed by one of Ireland’s greatest actors, the legendary Barry McGovern (who is also a fine singer) and the renowned classical composer and classical guitarist Benjamin Dwyer, this concert promises to be an unforgettable afternoon of entertainment.
Meet and greet the artists in the Town Hall Theatre bar after the show. Admission includes complimentary signature ‘Bloody Nora’ cocktails courtesy of Micil, and canapés from Cava Bodega.
Tickets are €25 ( concessions €20) and are available through the Town Hall Theatre Box Office.
Charlie Byrne’s Pop Up Bookshop
Town Hall Theatre - From 3 to 5pm
Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop will have a pop-up shop in the Town Hall Theatre with a special selection of Joycean and Nora Barnacle themed books, including ‘Nora’ by Nuala O’Connor.
Nora
Town Hall Theatre Gallery
The launch of an exhibition of works honouring our festival icon Nora Barnacle, curated by Margaret Nolan, featuring works from Joe Boske, Tom Mathews, Rosie Grau and more.
Saturday 22
Ring Making Workshop
Thomas Dillon Jewellery - 12.00 - 1.30 pm
Join the original makers of the original Claddagh rings since 1750, in a ring-making workshop showing how the iconic Claddagh is made.
Free of charge
Historical walking tour with Jonathon Hannon
Meeting Outside The Nora Barnacle House, Bowling Green - 2.00 - 3.30 pm
Walk the streets Nora walked with historian Jonathan Hannon on a vivid journey through the time of Nora Barnacle, tracing her footsteps in a highly entertaining walking tour. Dress up like Nora and James is encouraged!
Free of charge
The Poem Line and Portraits By Jim
Neachtains 4.00 pm
The Poem Line and Portraits by Jim Opens again for the afternoon!
Free of charge
The Lingerie Queen of Bowling Green
Charlie Byrne's Bookshop - 6.30 - 7.15pm
Written and performed by Nicole Rourke and featuring guitarist-composer Benjamin Dwyer., this hilarious play takes us on a ‘Circean’ odyssey into the underwear world of female intimacy amidst the confessions, dreams and desires of two of the most recognisable and inspiring female figures in modern literature; Nora Barnacle and Molly Bloom.
Free of charge. Wine and canapés will be provided by Cava Bodega.
Readings and Open Mic
Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop - 7.15 to 8.00pm
Readings by poet and playwright Alan McMonagle and celebrated chef and author JP McMahon followed by an open mic hosted by Caoimhe Lavelle. Sign up on the night for your opportunity to compare thine beloved to a summer’s day, or read an ode to a toad.
Free of charge. Wine and canapés will be provided by Cava Bodega.
Disco in the Bookshop with the Western Girls
Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop - 8.30 to 10.00pm
Gyup! Join The Western Girls, DJs Kwoo and Hag Trader, for a riotous shindig in the bookshop with glowsticks, silly hats, games and hijinx.
Free of charge
Sunday 23rd
Bloody Nora Brunch
Taaffes Bar - 12 to 12.45
Join us for a brunch that’s a bit of a céilí, and a bit of a ciorcal cómhrá, in Taaffe’s, with some fabulously mixed “Bloody Noras”; that’s our special version of the Bloody Mary, courtesy of our sponsor Micil Distillery! Mocktail versions available. Our Festival Chaperones Sister Jennifer and Father Browne will be keeping watchful eye on all antics, to protect our immortal souls.
Free Entry
Cheesy Laughs
Sheridans Cheese and Wine - 1.00 - 2.30
A cosy stand-up gig with famed comedians of TV and stage; Paddy Cullivan, John Moynes and Allie O Rourke.
Have yourself a belly laugh and enjoy complimentary gourmet cheese while you chuckle.
Tickets €10 on eventbrite or on the door (and includes cheese!)
Speed Date Drawing
Kinlay Hostel - 3.30 - 5.30pm
Speed dating with a difference in a fun quickfire drawing date led by artist and Festival Director Margaret Nolan. We think there’s no better way to get to know each other in a few minutes! We’ll also have complimentary signature Micil cocktails to help loosen you up!
Free of charge
Nora Barnacle Ball
Tigh Nora - 6.30 - until late
We’ll have another Best Dressed Nora Competition, so if you feel you were robbed the first time, this is your second chance to win a Grá Festival hamper courtesy of our sponsors! Come out in all your literary modernist finery and celebrate the great James and Nora.
Free of Charge
Silent Cinema Night : Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
A special screening of the darkly romantic 1927 silent film by FW Murnau in Galway’s Silent Cinema. It’s the perfect film, and setting, for time-travelling film lovers! Grá goers are invited to luxuriate in the cinema’s intimate wine bar for a pre-screening drink!
Tickets available from Silent Cinema Galway
Throughout The Festival
After Dark Blue Movie Nights
Liv Vintage Studios
Join us for saucy screenings of steamy flicks for adults only in the chic vintage surrounds of Liv Vintage. Screening details will be announced on our social media.
Tickets available from Liv Vintage
Art Trail
The Latin Quarter
Look out for Nora! Grá Festival will have a special exhibition of works around the windows of businesses in the Latin Quarter.
Our Festival Chaperones
Sister Jennifer and Father Brown, will be keeping watch on all festival activities, so be on your best behaviour!
Nora’s Love Snug
Tigh Neachtains
This year our Love Snug has been revamped as a shrine to Nora Barnacle. It’s the Love Snug we feel she’d want us all to have.
Galway Food tours
This year our food tours are based around love and Nora.
Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I strut by again? Get ready to spice things up with Galway Food Tours’ ”Single & Mingle” tour this Grá Festival Weekend!
It’s an afternoon bursting with indulgent food, delicious drink, and a sprinkle of mischief! No swiping necessary - just good craic and some fabulous cheesy pick-up lines!
€90 pp, Book online at www.galwayfoodtours.com
Grá Festival Discounts
Our accommodation partners Kinlay Hostel are offering a 20% discount when you book with Grá festival.
Radisson Red, Galway’s newest art hotel and our new festival partners, are offering a special discounted room rate of €140 when you book with Grá Festival.
Look out on our social media to be first to hear about our festival discounts with participating businesses.