Arts Week with Judy Murphy

Comedy, a rave with a traditional twist, a fireshow in Eyre Square, concerts, storytelling, workshops and talks will form part of Galway’s newest festival Tonnta, which runs on the February bank holiday weekend.

Tonnta (Waves) is a celebration of Galway as a bilingual city and many of the events are free and family friendly.

They include a free Scéalta do Pháistí session in Galway City Library on Friday, February 2, from The Moth and Butterfly storytelling collective, starting at 11am. On Saturday, February 3, also at 11am, there will be a bilingual storytelling session in Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop.

That afternoon, Eyre Square will host a céilí and fire show, starting at 1pm. The fire show will be presented by Rogu, a company that specialises in performing arts and educational shows, with light and fire at their centre.

Tonnta’s opening event features the presenters of Beo ar Éigean, the popular Irish-language podcast and RTÉ Radio 1 radio show.

Áine Ní Bhreisleáin, Sinéad Ní Uallacháin and Siún Ní Dhuinn will be in An Taibhdhearc on Thursday, February 1, at 1pm, chatting about life’s ups and downs, from the sublime to the ridiculous and everything in between, all trí Ghaeilge.

Singer and multi-instrumentalist Liam Ó Maonlaí will be in the Taibhdhearc on Saturday, February 3, at 8pm for a solo show.  Since he first came to prominence with the Hothouse Flowers in the 1980s, Liam has gained a name of one of Ireland’s finest musicians and singers. Through the years, he has also worked on solo projects, as well as recording with the likes of Carlos Nunez, U2 and Van Morrison. Most recently, he’s been at the helm of the Radió na Gaeltachta programme Cuan an Cheoil, featuring conversation and music, which is recorded at Stiúideo Cuan in An Spidéal.

Pictured: Altan will be joined by fiddle player Clare Friel for their Galway concert.