THE Galway International Arts Festival came to a close on Sunday night, with a sold-out Saw Doctors’ gig at the Heineken Big Top capping a great two weeks for Galway as the festival drew record crowds and put the artistic spotlight firmly on the city once again.

But for the highlight of the festival, Reunion, co-produced with its Landmark Productions, the show goes on – because it now goes onto Dublin Theatre Festival, with a run at the Gaiety from October 8 to 13.

Overall GIAF 2024 again recorded record attendances, drew critical acclaim for its co-productions and international media interest from UK and European publications, including The Guardian, The Telegraph and the Financial Times.

Attendances surpassed 400,000 again this year – including 13,379 attendees who queued to see Patricia Piccinin’s We Travel Together visual arts exhibit in the Festival Gallery last Saturday week alone.

And GIAF 2024’s free events proved particularly popular, with thousands of people enjoying a weekend of free street events over the middle weekend of the festival, from acrobatics in Eyre Square with Les P’Tit Bras’ West Wind to PlaneÌte Vapeur’s Pegasus, and GIAF’s entire visual arts programme, which is offered free of charge.

GIAF’s co-production with Once-Off Productions, Unspeakable Conversations was also lauded by critics, and there were also five star reviews for Druid’s Endgame.

Galway International Arts Festival CEO John Crumlish described it as a privilege to present GIAF 2024 as he thanked audiences who attended in such numbers.

“This was our biggest festival to date, and we are very thankful to all those who came, those that supported us and all the great artists whose work made it all possible,” he said.

“We have had an extraordinary response from audiences and artists to this year’s Festival,” added GIAF Artistic Director Paul Fahy.

“It is always such a thrill to present great art from Ireland and around the world in Galway and our artists loved performing and showing their work to such an appreciative, engaged and enthusiastic audience.”

Pictured: Valene Kane, Stephen Brennan, Cathy Belton and Robert Sheehan in Mark O’Rowe’s major new ensemble play, Reunion.