Groove Tube with Cian O’Connell

Brittany Fest Galway 2025 is underway, with events this week celebrating the golden 50th anniversary of the twinship between Galway and Lorient, and a relationship dating back to tobacco trading in 1794. This Sunday evening at 6pm, Galway band Galvian Way will mark something of a closing ceremony, playing their usual haunt the King’s Head for locals and Breton punters alike – they play the same venue at the same time on Thursday.

The group’s genesis goes back to 2022 when, amid the rejuvenation of Galway’s twinship with Lorient, they were asked to put a band together to spearhead that year’s festival programme.

Galvian Way are comprised of six traditional musicians all based in Galway – three locals and three drafted in from Tyrone, Clare and Donegal. As bouzouki player Mick Clancy explains, it is a blend of regional styles akin to different Irish accents.

When they perform together, there is a fusion of music from around the country, perhaps making them fitting representatives for Ireland when they are summoned to play for crowds from foreign lands.

“It was our very own Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D. Higgins who 50 years ago signed the charter between the two cities,” says Clancy.

“It went from strength to strength for a long time and then like everything in life, it just took a little bit of a dip. It’s back now with a bang. If people see black and white striped flags around town, that’s the Breton flag for the visit of our twin city. The fact that it’s 50 years really is special.”

Having performed for visiting Bretons in Galway, Galvian Way were invited to Lorient’s acclaimed Festival Interceltique in 2023, that attracts close to a million visitors every year.

“This thing is an absolutely massive festival where they shut down a whole city,” Clancy says.

“They surround the city with chain link fencing, and you pay €7 to get a little pin badge for your lapel and get access to about 15 stages throughout the city in various halls, marquees or outdoors. That runs for 10 days and there are bands on all day everyday on every stage until 2am from 12 noon. It’s unbelievable.

“It’s a coming together of all the Celtic nations. We know the famous ones in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. But there’s also the Isle of Man, Cornwall and Brittany, and then two regions in Spain in Asturias and Galicia.

Pictured: Galvian Way…King’s Head concert is cornerstone of Brittany Fest Galway.