News & Stories

The festive season in Galway is packed with excitement, and it’s the perfect time for families to come together and make cherished memories! From sparkling lights and winter markets to cosy family outings, Galway offers endless ways to celebrate the magic of this special time of year. Here at The Connacht Hotel, we are so excited for the festive season and can’t wait to welcome families for a holiday filled with joy, warmth, and unforgettable memories! We’ve put together an itinerary filled with festive cheer and fun for all the family.

Spooky season is here, and there’s no better place for a family Halloween adventure than The Connacht Hotel! With plenty of fun activities and Halloween-themed events, both at the hotel and around Galway, there's something for everyone to enjoy. From our friendly fellows’ kids' club to our Family Halloween Celebration and disco, your little ones are in for a treat. Plus, Galway offers a variety of family-friendly attractions, from pumpkin patches to ghastly treasure hunts. Join us for a spooktacular stay and create magical Halloween memories with your family this year!

Autumn is here, and Galway is bursting with colour and energy! As the leaves turn golden and the air gets a bit cooler, the city comes alive with all kinds of exciting events and cosy happenings. At The Connacht Hotel, we’ve put together a list of the best things to do this September, from local festivals to fun outdoor activities. Whether you’re a Galway local or just visiting, we’ve got the scoop on how to make the most of this vibrant season. So, throw on your favourite Aran sweater and get ready to dive into everything Galway has to offer this autumn!

Galway, often called the "City of Tribes," is a vibrant, artistic, and historical gem located on Ireland's west coast. If you're a US tourist with just 72 hours to explore this enchanting city, here's your ultimate guide to making the most of your visit.

Galway Race Week with Connacht Hospitality Group

Welcome to the heart of Galway Race Week 2024!

As the excitement builds for this iconic event, the Connacht Hospitality Group is thrilled to present a week full of unforgettable experiences across our venues: The Connacht Hotel, M. Fitzgerald's Bar, An Púcán, and Hyde Bar. From thrilling horse races to the lively Galway Summer Vibes Festival, Galway is the place to be. Let’s dive into what we have in store for you this race week

Summertime is one of our favourite times of the year. It usually means we get some nice weather, we have a few days booked off, and there’s a good vibe in the air.

It also means there’s something fun happening somewhere around the city pretty much every hour of the day.

Luckily for you, we’re here to make it easier for you to find out what’s going on, where, and when. 

Easter at The Connacht Hotel means family fun, an eggstravaganza of treats, and plenty of reasons to get out and about to explore.

So, if you’re looking for a family-friendly experience at a Galway hotel, we have so much to make your visit as enjoyable as it deserves to be.

Plus, we’ll even throw in a few incredible additions to really make your Easter enjoyment the best it deserves to be.

This St. Patrick’s Day, you owe it to yourself to book a stay at The Connacht Hotel.

We love this national holiday because it celebrates so much about why we love this country and what it represents. We’re here to help you maximise your enjoyment of the March 17 festival, and you’re welcome to extend your stay either side of that date.

After all, there is so much to savour and explore around Galway City. So, let’s dive in!

The holiday season is the most magical time of the year, and Christmas in Galway is even doubly spectacular.

When the lights go up, the decorations twinkle, and the novelty Christmas jumpers appear, you just know it’s time to start decking the halls and rocking around the Christmas tree. But before that, make sure you explore the City of Tribes – after all, Christmas activities in Galway are plentiful.

So, join us on a virtual sleigh ride as we dash through this list. 

Easter 2023 is going to be eggshellent, and The Connacht Hotel wants all our visitors to have a cracking Easter family break in Galway.

Easter is a really fun time of year – and Galway is a fantastic place to make the most of it. If you’re looking for a magical, family-friendly experience, the City of Tribes is the place to discover it!

Spooky season is almost upon us, so now is the perfect time to get planning your family's mid-term break. There is no shortage of fun activities in Galway this Halloween, with all these events to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect entertainment for your little ones!

The Baboró International Arts Festival for children is Ireland’s flagship festival devoted exclusively to children and families. The 26th annual Baboró festival returns this year from Friday October 14th to Sunday October 23rd.

This festival takes places across theatres, galleries, schools and communities across Galway city and county. This year the festival will occur over an extended time period of 10 days and will feature over 50 live events!

Baboró celebrates art in all its forms, through literature, theatre, music and dance. The full festival programme will be announced on the 6th of September, but in the meantime, here is a sneak peek of the fun to come!

Looking to visit Galway this Easter break? We’ve found some of the best family Easter break activities happening around Galway for you can take part in. Make this an Easter to remember

The Travel & Hospitality Award winners have been released and The Connacht Hotel is proud to announce that it has been awarded Family Friendly Hotel of the Year in the 2021 European Travel Awards programme.

While this year has been the toughest the travel industry has ever faced, the judges endeavoured to recognise those who deserve praise and to promote the hard work of tenacious travel businesses. Recipients of Travel & Hospitality awards in 2021 were scrupulously selected based on the aggregation of reviews from multiple third-party sources. Selected by a panel of experts who analyse submission material, review customer feedback and compare the facilities of each entrant.

Mid-Term Family Activities

If you're looking for a safe, fun place for wound-up children to get out of the house and burn off some energy, this midterm then we have the answer for you. Join us in The Connacht Hotel one of Galway’s most loved family friendly hotels. We have everything that you need for a family break away here in the hotel and Galway has lost to see and do this midterm where kids can belt around to their heart's content without breaking anything, and come home wiped out. If it's a soft day and you're looking for somewhere to shelter indoors with the kids, check this list of rainy day play options in Galway. Not all activities are suitable for all ages, so be sure to request something that fits your family when booking.

Apartments at The Connacht Hotel

As people continue to explore this beautiful country of our they are looking for new twists on accommodation options. Here at the Connacht Hotel we have a host of room types including our very popular Apartments which are ideal for corporate leisure or even students who are experiencing a very different academic term for the semester ahead.

Missed Moments in 2020? Claim them back...

That’s tough on those who celebrated special birthdays, anniversaries or family events this year. However here at the Connacht Hotel its not too late to celebrate those missed moments.

If one thing come’s out of Covid19 it is a new found appreciation for this stunning little island of ours.

Check out social media any day and you are inundated with the most amazing photos from all over the country, amazing cliffs, beautiful beaches and gorgeous greenery. It’s challenging not to be able to head off to the sun but an Irish staycation is much more than a consolation prize.

Galway is known as the City of the festivals and as the Galway Races have just complete their festival behind closed doors the Galway International Arts Festival have just announced a reimagined festival for the Autumn.

The team behind the arts festival are as creative as you’ll get so it was almost to be expected that somehow they would deliver and extraordinary ensemble of online and offline offerings to once again stun the culture vultures of the city.

If you are planning a Summer Staycation in Galway we've put together a list of some of the Top Things to Do this Summer in Galway

As Ireland slowly reopens to an uncertain future we can be assured of one thing that family and spending quality time with loved ones will never be taken for granted again. Over the past few months we had to depend on technology to stay in touch as we all yearned for the days when we can pack up and explore the Irish countryside.

If you are planning an Easter Break in Galway we've put together a list of some of the top things to do this Easter in Galway

We’ve asked our team here at the Connacht Hotel for their Top Choices for Things to Do and Family Activities in Galway, to help you plan the Best Family Hotel Break in Ireland. We've included some all-weather options so no matter hail, rain or sunshine - you can keep all the family entertained. 

It’s practically the same date every year and yet every year it sneaks up on us before we know it. If you forgot to call her or send a card last year or ordered a bunch of flowers just a couple of days too late then you have got some serious making up to do.

Even if you don’t fall into that category just think of all the stress you put her through in your teenage years; all the times she’s picked up the pieces when no one else could, given you advice that hadn’t even crossed your mind and done your laundry for you even when you’re a fully-fledged domesticated adult.

Mothers are amazing, there’s no denying that, but when faced with the lines of fluffy pink teddies, heart shaped candles and rose-scented bath sets that line Galway’s shop shelves year after year, the idea of Mother’s Day can be quite a nauseating one.

 

Summer Holidays fly by, so let’s create some memories of days out and adventures with the family to last a lifetime. Family life is busy and demanding but just oh so rewarding when you get a chance to take a break and enjoy some quality family time together.
Reconnect and recharge those batteries with a summer break in Galway. We’ve got some great summer family packages with a wide choice of family rooms and self-catering apartments in Galway, along with onsite family dining, swimming pool and a well organised Kids-club – we’ve got your summer breaks covered!

Based in Galway on Ireland’s West Coast, Baboró International Arts Festival for Children is Ireland’s flagship international arts festival devoted exclusively to children and families. In its 23rd year now the festival continues to go from strength to strength. Ahead of Galway 2020 kicking off next year the festival plays an integral role in fostering culture and an appreciation of the arts amongst the next generation in Galway.

If you are planning a Midterm Break with all the Family this Halloween, we've put together a list of some of the family-friendly events taking place throughout Galway over the October Mid-term Break.  As proud sponsors of MACNAS -  YOUNG ENSEMBLE, the highlight for us has to be the annual Macnas Parade that takes to the streets on Sunday 27th October. Here's some of the highlights from previous years to give you a taste of what is to come. 

2020 promises to be an incredible year in Irelands cultural heart on the Western seaboard. The European City of Culture title has been embraced with exuberance by locals, with the programme that is in place there is truly something for everyone. 

Anyone else feeling a bit sad after the last three brilliant weeks of festivities in Galway, it almost feels like we are on the run in to the C word already. Fear not Galway is the county of festivals and there is no shortage of fantastic events on the horizon. From next Monday August 12th Galway Pride kicks off with a week long schedule of events. From panel discussions in Irish, Mental Health Events, Comedy Nights and of course the Pride Parade there’s something for everyone in this years Galway’s Community Pride Festival.

We stumbled upon this write up from Andrea Mara | Officemum.ie on her stay with us in The Connacht Hotel and even though it's been a while it's still very relevant if you are planning a short family trip to Galway. 

Andrea Mara is a a freelance writer, blogger, newly published author, and mum of three.  Office Mum is about being a parent, about juggling work and home, and mostly about being a human today, muddling through! 

Thanks again Andrea and we look forward to welcoming you back again soon. 

We were delighted to sponsor the feature race, The Connacht Hotel Handicap at The Galway Races on the opening day 29th July 2019. 

The signs are getting bigger as the day is drawing nearer. 2020 is the year long awaited by all to express Galway’s diverse and rich culture across Europe. This is a chance to highlights Galway’s features in a new light. A chance for artists to show their potential, musicians to demonstrate their talents and communities to come together.

No matter what kind of event you’re looking for in Galway, you’re bound to have an exciting time. Galway has such a diverse, yet traditional culture filled with creative, fun communities who are proud of where they’re from! Galway is proudly known as Ireland’s “Cultural Heart” due to its reputation for Irish culture music, art, dance and language traditions.

#Galway2020  

As we celebrate our 50th year, we've compiled a list of 50 Reasons We Love Galway...

We're delighted to celebrate our 50th Anniversary this year. 1969 - 2019.

As part of our continued celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Connacht Hotel, we commissioned a video to celebrate a number of our longest serving staff members. One of the fundamental elements that this hotel is built on is that it’s “The People that make the Place!”. The friendly atmosphere which we pride ourselves on here in The Connacht Hotel is down to our team and how they engage with each other and our customers.

#Connacht50 #Connacht50Years 

The Connacht Hotel, one of Galway’s longest established hotels, is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2019. Originally opened as the Galway Ryan Hotel in 1969 with almost 100 rooms, it was seen as a catalyst to the tourism industry in the city.

Mr Dermot Ryan, the Chairman of Ryan Tourist Holdings in 1969, is quoted as saying: “Our aim is to offer good food and first-class rooms with private bathroom suites at down to earth prices aiming at high occupancy spread over the whole year,” with the average price to stay in the hotel at that time just over a pound in old money.

There is nothing better than the gift of time - and family time together is so important when day-to-day life and routine activities become so overwhelming. 

Make time well spent and plan some getaway breaks and adventures for 2019, to make the most of that special time together.  A Christmas Gift Voucher for the Connacht Hotelcan be used towards any hotel break, family getaway or dining in the hotel. 

We are so excited about our new Christmas Video for the Connacht Hotel. A very special guest has arrived to add a touch of magic to Christmas here at the Connacht Hotel.

Macnas the award-winning internationally acclaimed spectacle theatre company from Galway, led by Artistic Director Noeline Kavanagh have teamed up with The Connacht Hospitality Group in support of The Macnas Young Ensemble.

Macnas are known across the globe for their large-scale interactive, immersive spectacle events for audiences, communities and festivals, with their shows involving up to 300 participants with audiences of 50,000 people in attendance.

We are delighted to sponsor Macnas here in Galway and this year we got the opportunity to be part of the Halloween Parade, 'Out of the Wild Sky', on Sunday 28th October through the streets of Galway City.

We are delighted to be a Platinum Friend of the Festival once again for the upcoming Galway International Arts Festival.

If you are planning a trip to Galway for the Galway International Arts Festival, from 16th - 29th July 2018, there are numerous events suitable for young and old.

We’ve teamed up with MyKidsTime and asked them for their reccomendations for Things to Do in Galway for Familiesand they have come up with, not just a Top 10 but '11 Unusual Activities for Families to Enjoy in Galway'. 

Summer Holidays fly by, so let’s create some memories of days out and adventures with the family to last a lifetime. Family life is busy and demanding but just oh so rewarding when you get a chance to take a break and enjoy some quality family time together.
Reconnect and recharge those batteries with a summer break in Galway. We’ve got some great summer family packages with a wide choice of family rooms and self-catering apartments in Galway, along with onsite family dining, swimming pool and a well organised Kids-club – we’ve got your summer breaks covered!

We’ve asked our team here at the Connacht Hotel for their Top 10 Choices for Family Activities in Galway, to help you plan the Best Family Hotel Break in Ireland this summer:

Lets be realistic we all know that Galway is one of the nest cities in the world to spend time in, but at Christmas it’s particularly special. Here at the Connacht Hospitality group we have come up with a list of our favourite things about Galway during the festive season.

It’s finally here, the week we have all been waiting for, if you are going racing the best of luck, we hope you have a few wins.

Here at The Connacht Hotel we are looking forward to the summer of 2017 as we launch our brand new Summer BBQ Menu. Head Chef Eddy Guragano and his team have created a mouth watering menu to delighted fans of outdoor dining.

As we start into June and look forward to the summer ahead here is a quick look at whats happening this week in the Hotel and Galway

As we race through May and look forward to the summer ahead here is a quick look at whats happening this week in the Hotel and Galway

Food, football and philanthropy. There is something for everyone to participate in this week in Galway!

I can’t believe its almost the last week of March already, hopefully the weather is a bit better in April.

Welcome back from The Connacht. Read more to see how you can win tickets, taste the best gin in Ireland, and witness a rivalry match-up!

Happy Saint Patrick’s week everybody, we always love the feast of the partron Saint but especially when it falls on a Friday.

Week 2 of The January Blues - we've got something to cheer you up...

Happy new year guys, hope everybody had a great Christmas.

The festive season is in full swing this week at the hotel but our spirits were dampened by the news from Connacht Rugby this week...

As usual we have lots of meetings and events in the hotel this week. One that might be of particular interest to jobseekers is Goodman Medical.

Hey guys, hope you all had a lovely long weekend. Here at The Connacht Hotel we take pride on being one of Galways best family friendly hotels.

As October draws to a close, we look forward to the Halloween festivities that the season brings.

As we enter the third week of October it’s another busy one here in the Connacht Hotel.