30 Years of Laughs in the littlest room at The Kings Head
The most intimate Festival comedy at its best will happen at The Kings Head this July! The Kings Head has been a venue for lunchtime Comedy during GIAF for over 30 years. This July you can catch some of Ireland’s best Comedians up close and personal in the intimate surrounds of The Ruby Room on the top floor of the 800-year-old Kings Head.
For many it’s a Festival within a Festival, with a different line up each day, it’s a rare chance to catch these stadium style comics in such an intimate setting. All this under the tutelage of host and MC Gerry Mallon.
No pre planning or booking, The Laughter Loft at the Ruby Room for Galway International Arts Festival is what Galway festivals are all about. Spontaneity and fun.
Enjoy the comedy styling of top acts including Ross Browne, Anna Clifford, Neil Delamere, Emma Doran, Chris Kent, Aideen McQueen, Colm O’Regan and Karl Spain plus many more performing in the smallest room they will play this year, or any year. Shows take place daily from Monday 17th to Sunday 30th July.
Doors open at 12:30pm with all shows starting at 1pm.
There is no pre booking, first come first served with Tickets available on the door only. For all things The Kings Head check out www.thekingshead.ie, www.giaf.ie or get social @TheKingsHead.
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Laughter Loft 2023 Line-up
Mon July 17th, Chris Kent Tues July 18th, Al Porter Weds July 19th, Shane Daniel Byrne Thurs July 20th, Aideen McQueen Fri July 21st, Colm O Regan Sat July 22nd, John Colleary Sun July 23rd , John Colleary Mon July 24th, Karl Spain Tues July 25th, Gearoid Farrelly Weds July 26th, Neil Delamere Thurs July 27th, Patrick McDonnell Fri July 28th, Anna Clifford Sat July 29th, Emma Doran Sun July 30th, Paul Marsh and Stuart Lambert
Celebrating all things French with Galway Food Tours
The award-winning Galway Food Tours who guide people through the food scene and streets in the west are inviting you to celebrate all things French. Swamping the Champs-Elysée for Shop Street and to mark Bastille Day on Friday 14 July with a two-hour French inspired food tour in Galway!
Guests will be served the best of French wines & cheeses, indulgent fondants, and fresh pastries. C’est merveilleux! The tour is €75pp and can be booked at www.galwayfoodtours.com.
As part of Galway International Arts Festival, The Kings Head is delighted to support the Irish premiere of Dragon, a fantastic creature that will pass through the streets of Galway. This free street performance will allow us to dive into this extraordinary world, as an enormous Dragon wanders the medieval streets of Galway!
Look at the fire, witness the shadows dancing in the night. Let the Dragon make your forgotten dreams come true!
Artistic Director and producer Pierre Povigna created Planète Vapeur in 2006. Having studied architecture, Povigna was always passionate about complex mechanisms and giant biomechanical machines. Working with a team of technicians and artists, Planète Vapeur bring fantastic and magical worlds to life.
“Galway International Arts Festival is the highlight of our year at The Kings Head. We have been involved as a venue since the late eighties and look forward to hosting Lunchtime Comedy with the ‘Laughter Loft’ again this year. This year is extra special, as we are lending our support to this amazing, family friendly, free event. Dragon will give that sense of magic on the streets of Galway that we have come to expect every July from Galway International Arts Festival,” said Paul Grealish of The Kings Head.
Dragon will run 3 times during the festival – Friday 21 July 9.30pm, Saturday 22 July 2pm and 9.30pm. The route is Eyre Square to the Spanish Arch via the O’Brien’s Bridge & Dominick St. Lower.
LambCam were named overall winners with Glow by Chlo Cosmetics recognised as the ‘One to Watch’
LambCam, a software to help farmers monitor sheep’s behaviour during lambing season, has been named the winner of the University of Galway IdeasLab’s 2023 Start100 student entrepreneurship programme University of Galway.
The highly acclaimed Start100 programme, showcased the innovative ideas of 12 teams of aspiring student entrepreneurs. The final event saw teams pitch their unique ideas to an expert panel of judges from academia, research, industry, and enterprise at a special showcase event on campus in front of an audience of students, mentors, enterprise and University of Galway staff.
The winning entry of the 2023 Start100 programme was LambCam securing €5,000 in funding. Glow by Chlo Cosmetics were recognised with the ‘One to Watch’ award, affirming their potential for future success.
The Start100 programme is an intensive six-week programme run out of University of Galway’s IdeasLab – the student innovation hub, open to all disciplines, located at the heart of the campus. Start100 connects students into a thriving community of innovators and entrepreneurs across Ireland and culminates at this showcase, where each team presents their ideas.
This year, the varied group of student entrepreneurs had ideas ranging from an app designed to improve your rowing capabilities to beauty and skincare products.
Teams underwent a transformative entrepreneurial journey, nurturing their ideas and focusing on how to best leverage their network and funding opportunities for future success. With the guidance and support of mentors, speakers and the vibrant startup ecosystem in Galway and across the country, the students developed and validated their business models, developed their networking skills and built a peer-to-peer community to support one another to develop and grow.
Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, University of Galway Deputy President and Registrar, said: “University of Galway is committed to transforming our values of excellence, respect, sustainability and openness into actions and deeds. Today we witnessed that first hand through our students in their pursuit of societal impact through enterprising ideas. The University, in partnership with our business community, plays a crucial role in nurturing their growth and supporting our people and our planet and we are incredibly proud of our student entrepreneurs.”
Dr Natalie Walsh, Director of Entrepreneurial Development at University of Galway, said: “We are excited to see a surge in interest in entrepreneurship across our campus. The Start100 teams have truly impressed us with their exceptional quality and innovative ideas, serving as a testament to the remarkable success of the programme. We are committed to leveraging our achievements and exploring new collaborative partnerships to maximize opportunities for our student entrepreneurs.”
The judging panel for the final event included: University of Galway Vice-President Engagement Dr Paul Dodd; Chief Executive of Complete Laboratory Solutions (CLS) and scientist Evelyn O’Toole: one of Ireland’s leading financial advisors and internationally recognised Certified Financial Planner Paul Merriman; one of the Top 100 Women in STEM in Ireland and Partner at Atlantic Bridge – Kauffman Fellow Helen McBreen; and Aerogen Chief Executive and founder John Power.
Active* Consent marks scale of work since 2013 and outlines expansion plans using multidisciplinary approach to promote healthy relationships and foster a culture of respect
Minister for Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris T.D. has today officially launched University of Galway’s Active* Consent programme 2023-27.
Active* Consent is an innovative sexual consent education and research initiative, which began at University of Galway. Now a national programme, it has been at the forefront of promoting healthy relationships and fostering a culture of respect since its inception in 2013.
Repro Free: Thursday 15th June 2023. Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris T.D. has officially launched University of Galways Active* Consent programme 2023-27. Active* Consent is an innovative sexual consent education and research initiative, which began at University of Galway in 2013. Now a national programme, it has been at the forefront of promoting healthy relationships and fostering a culture of respect. Pictured was Alex Black campaign lead, Active*Consent. Picture Jason Clarke.
Active* Consent marked the launch of the 2023-27 programme with the publication of a report reviewing the scale of work undertaken during its first large scale programme 2019-2022 and an outline of goals to expand the work over the next five years.
More than 70,000 first year college students took part in consent workshops between 2019-2022, and more than 1,500 staff member and student leaders have been trained in delivering workshops.
More than 4,000 post-primary pupils took part in consent workshops during the first 12 months of the Active* Consent for School Communities programme in 2021-2022, while 750 teachers have been trained in delivering these workshops and 1,000 parents have attended online seminars.
The new programme sets goal to take Active* Consent international by engaging with universities, forming partnerships with practitioners and researchers, and adapting programming to meet the needs of students outside of Ireland
Partnered with Rugby Players Ireland on the delivery of consent programming in the organisation’s Academy Programme since 2019, with ambitions to build on that by offering the Active* Consent model of awareness raising, skills development, and culture change to other sporting bodies.
Plans to initiate new research that focuses on how ideas and roles concerning consent evolve for teenagers and young men.
Minister Harris expressed Government support for the programme and Active* Consent’s commitment to addressing the issue of sexual consent in Ireland: “It is essential we equip the next generation with the skillset and the knowledge needed on consent. This programme has already been incredibly successful in schools and further and higher education institutions across the country. The launch of this Active* Consent Programme is another step towards tackling an extremely serious issue that can have lifelong consequences for the victims. It is one of my top priorities to ensure that we create campus cultures which are safe, respectful, and supportive for all staff and students.”
Repro Free: Thursday 15th June 2023. Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris T.D. has officially launched University of Galways Active* Consent programme 2023-27. Active* Consent is an innovative sexual consent education and research initiative, which began at University of Galway in 2013. Now a national programme, it has been at the forefront of promoting healthy relationships and fostering a culture of respect. Pictured from LtoR are Dr Padraig MacNeela, Senior Lecturer at the School of Psychology, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris T.D, and Dr Siobhán OHiggins, Research Fellow at the School of Psychology. Picture Jason Clarke.
President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “The past decade has brought considerable learning on consent for all of us. Now there is an active national conversation on consent, which our history teaches us is healthier, preferable to silence. This is pioneering work, led by University of Galway. It is symbolic not only of the focus we place here on our university being here for the public good, but also symbolic of our core value of respect. All of us at University of Galway look forward to the expansion of the work of Active* Consent and in continuing to make a difference in and for society.”
Dr Siobhán O’Higgins, University of Galway senior researcher and Co-Lead on Active* Consent, said: “Our programming promotes the ethos that consent is ongoing, mutual, and freely given – that consent is for everyone, in all relationships, across genders and sexual orientations, and for all types of intimacy, if someone ever chooses to engage with a partner.”
Active* Consent is supported through funding and philanthropy by Lifes2good Foundation; Rethink Ireland; University of Galway, Government of Ireland; and the Dormant Accounts Fund. The 2019-2022 programme was led by Dr Pádraig MacNeela, Dr Charlotte McIvor, and Dr Siobhán O’Higgins.
Active* Consent developed a novel initiative to bring the topics of sex and consent to wider youth audiences, with Dr Charlotte McIvor working with more than 40 drama students and graduates since 2014 to write and produce four successive versions of the play ‘The Kinds of Sex You Might Have at College’. It toured 19 Irish college campuses in 2022, reaching 2,300 students and staff.
The play allows audiences to see what positive, active consent and non-consent look like, how they impact individuals and peer groups, and what can be done to respond to scenarios that young people might experience.
Of the 850 college students who completed the post-show survey, 87% agreed that the play improved their understanding of sexual consent.
82% agreed that it increased their confidence negotiating sexual boundaries.
81% agreed that after the performance they knew where to find information on how to report sexual assault.
A grant from the Community Foundation of Ireland enabled Active* Consent to adapt the drama to post-primary school audiences. ‘How I Learned About Consent’ was performed to 1,300 pupils from 16 schools in 2022.
Of the 800 school pupils who completed the post-show survey, 83% of pupils agreed that the play represented the range of sexual issues and situations that young people face.
79% of pupils agreed that they felt more confident responding as an active bystander to help a friend or family member.
85% of pupils agreed that the play delivered important messages.
The Kings Head Bar in Galway proudly announces its partnership with the esteemed rebuilt Galway Hooker ‘Meaircín Joe,’ marking a significant milestone in preserving Ireland’s rich maritime heritage. This all unfolded on Friday evening at the Claddagh Basin as the Kings Head Bar officially launched the vessel, sending it off to the open sea amidst a very Galway get together to mark the occasion.
Named in honour of the two O’Clochartaigh brothers- Meaircín and Joe – who built her in 1987 in Mweenish, The Galway Hooker ‘Meaircín Joe’ represents a cherished tradition of Irish craftsmanship and seafaring history, showcasing the dedication and skills of local artisans. The rebuilt vessel, meticulously handcrafted by boat builder Joe Joyce, stands as a testament to the timeless beauty and resilience of Galway’s maritime culture.
In late 2010, John Linsey and family in Dublin, gave permission to the Bádóirí an Chladaigh to bring her to Galway in order to restore her. The ‘Meaircín Joe’ has now returned to Galway waters and join the fleet of Bádóirí an Chladaigh.
The Kings Head Bar, an institution in Galway City known for its commitment to preserving Irish traditions, has forged a partnership with the Galway Hooker ‘Meaircín Joe.’ This collaboration aims to honour Galway’s seafaring legacy and promote the region’s cultural heritage to a global audience.
“‘The Meaircín Joe’ which was launched last Friday after being rebuilt by Bádóirí an Chladaigh with generous support from The Kings Head Pub and the Grealish family. The launch was celebrated on the long walk with a few tunes where even the dolphins made an appearance. The Meaircín Joe joins the growing fleet of Galway Hookers which are a fantastic asset to the city of Galway,” explained Paul Grealish of The Kings Head.
Bádóirí an Chladaigh is supported Galway City Council, Cold Chon, Selos, Galway City Partnership and fundraising initiatives from the general public.
For more information check out The Kings Head on social channels, on High Street and here https://www.thekingshead.ie/.
Outstanding Woman, Mary GrealishHonoured at the 3rd Irish Women’s Awards 2023
The King’s Head has won Family Run Business of the Year at the 2023 Irish Women’s Awards. This event is dedicated to celebrating the extraordinary accomplishments of women in Ireland, and Mary Grealish was honoured at the 3rd edition of the Awards held on June 2nd in Dublin.
The gala ceremony brought together women from various fields, highlighting their exceptional contributions and inspiring stories of success.
The Irish Women’s Awards serves as a platform to recognise and honour the outstanding achievements of women who have made a significant impact in their respective industries. The event aims to inspire and empower women, encouraging them to reach new heights of success and leadership.
Each winner has displayed exceptional talent, expertise, and dedication in their field. Their achievements not only serve as an inspiration to others but also contribute to the advancement of gender equality and diversity in Ireland.
The 800-year-old Kings Head pub has been owned and operated by the Grealish family since the late 80s, and it has long been one of the most beloved spots in the city. Mary’s influence, her creativity, work ethic and warmth can be found everywhere in the Kings Head, from her eye for interiors evident in recent decor upgrades, to her management of HR for 75 employees.
“It’s wonderful to win this award and to be recognised for The Kings Head and all that it offers in terms of food, drinks, live music. We have a team of 75 in house and we work with local suppliers, musicians, and artists. WE are embedded into Galway and love to champion this wonderful city through our partnerships with Galway International Arts Festival, Druid Theatre Company, Connacht Rugby and the rebuilt Galway Hooker ‘Meaircín Joe’. We are gearing up for the summer of fun in Galway and this win is setting the tone for what will be a fantastic year ahead,” explained Mary.
A Spokesperson for the Irish Women’s Awards 2023 said: “We would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and finalists for their outstanding accomplishments and their positive influence within their industries and communities. Their achievements are a testament to their hard work, passion, and unwavering commitment to excellence.”
Pop into The Kings Head on High Street 7 days a week for food, drinks and live music. Get social online at www.thekingshead.ie.
Experience is the best gift, so why not do just that this Father’s Day?
Every year the dilemma of what to do or get for Dad comes into play, so the team at Galway Food Tours have put together a food and whiskey tour that will tick all the boxes for you the giver and your dad this year.
Spend time together and enjoy a three-hour whiskey pairing tour with beautiful plates of food at some of Galway best food spots. Tickets €90 pp available online at www.galwayfoodtours.com.
An immersive sculpture installation engaging all senses
Self taught , professional Irish artist and teacher of wire sculpture. Glenn Gibson’s work, spanning two decades, explores themes of mysticism, consciousness and the natural world. For the last six years Glenn has been the Creative Director for Art in Mind, Galway’s artist led non-profit organisation that is dedicated to promoting mental wellbeing through creative practice. Now Glenn is launching One, an immersive sculpture installation engaging all senses which will launch in September 2024.
What started as a hobby became a vital therapeutic tool to combat life’s more difficult times. Combined with a meditation practice Glenn discovered that this focused activity began to untie all the knots in his mind, giving clear and calm periods where creativity poured from him. “It was the only time in my day where the chatter of my brain would abate, my stress and anxiety would fade and time dilate. I had accidentally stepped into a flow state, and have been fascinated with it ever since,” said Glenn.
Introducing One The project: This work explores the illusion of separation in three parts. “In an ever ‘connected’ world we find more and more people experiencing loneliness and feelings of isolation. The first part explores the sensation of being surrounded by people and still feeling alone, while at the same time offering a perspective shift to realise that everything is interconnected and that we all participate in the creation of our experience,” explained Glenn.
Why 108? In many cultures 108 is a sacred number. According to the mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci, who was born around A.D. 1170 and after whom the Fibonacci sequence is (nick)named, it is believed that the number 108 has a way of representing the wholeness of existence. This subject will be explored more throughout the installation.
Join The 108
The reason I chose to use this number is an entire rabbit hole in itself but suffice to say, 108 is a sacred number, According to Vedic cosmology, 108 is the basis of creation, represents the universe and all our existence. In yoga, the number 108 refers to spiritual completion. That’s the reason why malas used for japa (silent repetition of a mantra) are composed of 108 beads.
The 108 are the core supporters of this project. For more information, to get involved and or to support check out https://108.ie/.
The award-winning Galway Food Tours who guide people through the food scene of Galway have added to their offering this spring/summer with a new program that will introduce the people behind the food. The Meet the Maker tour will combine food and the unique characters in Galway who bring the best of what is on offer to life.
Bringing in the cheese is Teresa Roche, the woman behind the award winning Kylemore FarmHouse Cheese – produced on Teresa’s family farm at the foothills of the Slieve Aughty mountains in Co Galway.
On Thursday 18 May she will share her journey on becoming a fourth generation dairy farmer and talk you through what is involved in getting her premium cheese from farm to table…while sampling her delicious cheese.
After meeting Teresa, you will take a short walk to one of Galway Food Tours special restaurants for a dinner and wine pairing…finishing the evening off with a nightcap in a very special local bar.
Adhere Digital Nominated for three international marketing awards
Data driven Digital Marketing Agency, Adhere Digital located in Galway Westend have secured the only west of Ireland Premier Partner Agency with Google, further cementing its position as one of the top digital marketing agencies in Ireland & UK.
Adhere Digital, the Galway-London outfit, are a fast-growing digital marketing agency with an impressive rise in the last few years, specialising in Search Engine Marketing and now The European Search Awards have nominated Adhere Digital for three Awards. The nominations include Best Small PPC Agency, Best Use of Search – Retail/E-commerce (PPC) (Small), and a Rising Star Award for Gráinne Harte. Founded four and a half years ago, Adhere Digital has quickly established itself as a leading player in the digital marketing space for Ecommerce and lead generation clients.
The company has managed over €5 million worth of media Spending across Google, Meta & Tik Tok and generated over €23 Million in revenue for their Ecommerce clients alone. They are well versed in where to spend their client money to get a positive Rate of Investment. The European Search Awards are among the most respected awards in the industry, recognising excellence in digital marketing across Europe.
The European Search Awards will announce winners at a gala ceremony in Lisbon on May 25th, “We’re excited to be in the running for these awards,” said Paul Walsh Managing Director at Adhere Digital. “It’s great to see our team’s hard work and commitment to delivering results being recognised on a European stage. We’re looking forward to the awards ceremony in June and wish all the other nominees the best of luck.”
The agency’s focus on results-driven strategies and exceptional customer service has earned them a reputation as a top performer in the industry. “We’re thrilled to have been nominated for these awards; I think it’s a testament to our team, who had always embraced the data-first approach, which was our mission when we started in 2018. We all have opinions in advertising of what works and does not work, but we always let the data do the talking. When you take modern digital marketing strategies using data and machine learning and apply age-old human behavioural biases, the results can be incredible. We are very grateful for the type of clients we have, and putting their trust in us, means a great deal to us.” said Paul.
