GIAF 2017 Week One Highlights

What were the highlights of the first week of Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF) 2017 for you? Refresh your memory with our GIAF 17 Week One Highlights video.

An annual highlight is of course witnessing the iconic Absolut Big Top rise up into the Galway skyline. Maybe you were lucky enough to secure tickets to two of our sold out Absolut Big Top shows - Gavin James or Passenger? Or perhaps you fulfilled a lifetime ambition and saw The Beach Boys’ legend Brian Wilson present Pet Sounds live and for the last time?

Maybe theatre is more your thing and, like most people, you were charmed and delighted by Kneehigh’s production of Tristan & Yseult, which has been wowing critics and audiences alike. Or perhaps you were in the crowd at the world premiere of the Landmark Productions and GIAF production Woyzeck in Winter.

If you caught a few of our First Thought Talks, you’ll know we packed houses at NUI Galway last weekend with engrossing talks by luminaries including Colm Tóibín, RTÉ’s Caitriona Perry, Syrian architect Marwa Al-Sabouni, psychologist Maureen Gaffney, and author Barry W. Fitzgerald.

Our visual arts galleries have visitors streaming in and are still going strong! Ana Maria Pacheco, John Gerrard, John Beard, Ailbhe Ní Bhriain, and Nicola Gunwhy are just a few of the artists on display. If you missed our live stream with Festival Gallery artist Ana Maria Pacheco, you can catch up here.

Thousands of people also descended on Eyre Square for a spectacular weekend of free street events. The People Build was an architectural feat devised by French artist Olivier Grossetête in which over 430 volunteers helped to transform 1.6 tonnes of cardboard into an awe-inspiring, democratically-constructed building. The design was inspired by the Aula Maxima in NUI Galway, and young and old alike participated and watched in amazement as the build took shape. The People Build was complemented this weekend by multiple performances from Festival favourites Transe Express.

We think you’ll agree, it’s been an extraordinary first week at Galway International Arts Festival 2017, and we haven’t even mentioned them all! Don’t worry if you missed some of it; there’s still loads more to come in visual arts, theatre, music, street spectacle, opera, comedy, and discussion in GIAF week two.

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