02 Mar
Galway Business & English School Student Experience & Events
Social Activity Programme
GCI offers a weekly activity social programme with many options to choose from. The activity programme is designed monthly, and some highlights may include cultural events across the city and county, practical workshops on various themes and topics from grammar clinics to CV preparation and Irish culture, volunteer opportunities or weekend trips to famous landscapes across Ireland and the Wild Atlantic Way. We believe that in order to get the most from your time with us, you should be exposed to English not just in the classroom but in a variety of environments and contexts. The social activity programme enables students to enhance their learning experiences by practicing their English skills in the real world and getting to know other English students outside of the classroom.
These activities are a scheduled part of all courses and normally occur after class in the afternoon and evening.
Our main social activities are listed below and a more detailed breakdown of daily activities available in the school is available below. During the summer, students can book activities during the lunch break, Monday to Thursday in Halla Mor.
You can find out what’s happening each week and month by checking your account under Student Portal as well.
Upcoming events calendar
Galway Water Activities
5:27p.m. 2nd March - 5:27p.m. 8th November 2026
Rusheen Bay
Rusheen Bay Galway city offer a range of watersports such as Windsurfing, Kayaking & Paddleboarding. Rusheen Bay is an ideal spot in Galway for open-top kayaking. The bay is big enough to offer lots to see and small enough to paddle around in one session. The bay is a safe, calm and shallow inlet - it's really the perfect place to try kayaking for the first time.
06 Mar
Enjoy a Night at the Theatre
8:00p.m. 6th March 2026
Discover the incredible true story of Tom Crean, one of the few men to serve with both Scott and Shackleton and survive three legendary Antarctic expeditions: Discovery (1901–1904), Terra Nova (1910–1913), and Endurance (1914–1916). Crean’s 36-mile solo trek during the Terra Nova expedition to rescue his comrades Teddy Evans and William Lashly is hailed by historians as “the finest feat of individual heroism from the entire age of exploration.” For his bravery, he was awarded the Albert Medal.
13 Mar
St Patrick's Day Celebrations
12:00p.m. 13th March - 12:00a.m. 17th March 2026
Galway City
Galway plays host to the traditional Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations with a large parade in Galway city and smaller local parades around the county. In 2026 the celebrations run from Friday 13 March to Tuesday 17 March 2026. Galway also participates fully in Seachtain na Gaeilge / Irish language week from 1st to 17th March.
14 Mar
Watch boat racing from the banks of the Corrib
10:00a.m. 14th March 2026
Don’t miss the return of Galway Head of the River rowing event taking place on Saturday 15th March. Rowing clubs from all over Ireland converge to take part in the long distance rowing race from Lough Corrib all the way to Woodquay in Galway City. Boasting a course that spans three miles, starting at ‘the cut’ near the mouth of the Corrib and concluding beneath the Quincentennial Bridge, boats vie against each other and the clock. The action unfolds across three events, commencing at 10am, 1.30pm, and 4pm, showcasing the prowess of the rowing crews.
14 Mar
Scotland vs Ireland
2:10p.m. 14th March 2026 - 5:30p.m. 9th February 2025
Edinburgh, Scotland
17 Mar
St Patricks Day Parade Galway
5:36p.m. 17th March 2026
The St Patrick’s Festival parade in Galway on March 17th will mark the highlight of a 4 day celebration of Irish culture and will serve as a platform to showcase the creativity of local artists and community groups. The parade starts at 11.30am and runs through Galway city centre for over 1 hour. The theme for the parade is yet to be confirmed but it will see up to 3000 participants taking part in what will be a colourful spectacle throughout the city centre. The event aims to celebrate Galway’s diverse culture and talent through an inclusive programme of events. Expect many additional events to be held throughout the city over the bank holiday weekend. Parade Route for 2026 The parade route (first used in 2019) will remain in place for 2026, with participants marching from University Road, over the Salmon Weir Bridge, to Eglinton Street and onwards past the viewing stand at Eyre Square and concluding on Prospect Hill.
Study in the heart of Galway, Ireland
From €360
Learning a new language, including English, can be a rewarding and fulfilling endeavour at any age. Consider enrolling in our English for 30+ course. This course can provide structure, guidance, and opportunities for interaction with a teacher and fellow learners.
English Courses for Adults 30 + in Ireland | GBS & English School
From €290
General English Courses are our most popular English language courses. You can choose to study English in Ireland with this popular 20 lessons per week course.
General English 20 lessons AM
From €4200
The Study Abroad Year programme is aimed at students from outside the EEA area who need to improve their General English while taking an international English exam.
Study English Abroad 20 lessons AM
Since 1989, Galway Cultural Institute has provided English language programmes to students from all over the world - in fact, we have welcomed people from more than 30 countries.
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