EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

Galway is experiencing a real growth in artistic activity, and it's at its most vibrant during The Galway Arts Festival . There's plenty to detain you year round too: Galway's the home of the versatile Druid Theatre Company (tel 091/568617, info@druidtheatre.com ), in Chapel Lane, off Quay St; a relatively young company, it produces six new plays a year - many of them new works by Irish authors - and undertakes extensive tours. If you're lucky enough to be in Galway city when they're on, book a ticket in advance, as they play to packed houses. The most exciting artistic development of recent years has been the emergence of the local street theatre troupe Macnas (tel 091/561462, www.macnas.com ). This internationally acclaimed group have elevated the art of street theatre to new heights; to watch one of their flamboyant street performances is a truly exhilarating experience and should not be missed. An Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe in Middle St (tel 091/562024) is an Irish-language theatre that puts on an annual summer show of traditional singing, music and drama. The Town Hall Theatre , Courthouse Square, Woodquay (tel 091/569777, www.homepage.eircom.net/~tht ) stages plays from visiting companies most nights of the year.

The Galway Arts Centre , Nun's Island, off Mill St, is used as a performance space for dance, theatre and music; for bookings, information and visual arts exhibitions call in at 47 Dominick St (tel 091/565886). It's also a good place to find out what's going on in the arts locally. There are a few commercial art galleries worth a visit too: The Bridge Mills Gallery, O'Brien's Bridge; The Kenny Gallery, Middle St (tel 091/553733, www.kennysgallery.ie ); and the Logan Gallery in Woodquay (tel 091/563635).