First ever Galway Arts Festival with international designations opens

Galway Bay fm newsroom – Excitement is building for tonight’s official opening at the Radisson Hotel of the first ever Galway Arts Festival with the designation ‘international’
Founded in 1978, it has grown into an event with a major reputation where, in 2013, there were 165,000 attendances at 190 performances, talks and exhibitions in 29 venues over 14 days
In a change with tradition this year’s opening ceremny will be preceded by a performance, putting the emphasis on content rather than pomp
The Enda Walsh play Ballyturk which stars Cillian Murphy, Mikel Murfi and Stephen Rea gets the honour of being the opening act and the sold out show takes place at the Black Box Theatre
Afterwards Enda Walsh will declare the festival officially underway at the ceremony in the Radisson Hotel where the attendance will include the cast and fellow actors Brendan and Donal Gleeson
Speaking to FYI Galway in advance of the opening Enda Walsh said the Festival’s spirit of an amalgam of the people, the geography and falling in love