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

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March 2026

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Galway Water Activities icon

02 Mar

Galway Water Activities

READY TO GET ON THE WATER?

02 Mar

More info

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.

Enjoy a Night at the Theatre icon

06 Mar

Enjoy a Night at the Theatre

The Remarkable Story of Tom Crean

06 Mar

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Enjoy a Night at the Theatre

Enjoy a Night at the Theatre

8:00p.m. 6th March 2026

Town Hall Theatre

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.

St Patrick's Day Celebrations icon

13 Mar

St Patrick's Day Celebrations

Celebrate St Patrick's Day

13 Mar

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St Patrick's Day Celebrations

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.

Watch boat racing from the banks of the Corrib icon

14 Mar

Watch boat racing from the banks of the Corrib

Tribesmen Head of the River Race

14 Mar

More info
Watch boat racing from the banks of the Corrib

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.

Scotland vs Ireland icon

14 Mar

Scotland vs Ireland

Ireland v Scotland

14 Mar

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Scotland vs Ireland

Scotland vs Ireland

2:10p.m. 14th March 2026 - 5:30p.m. 9th February 2025

Edinburgh, Scotland

St Patricks Day Parade Galway icon

17 Mar

St Patricks Day Parade Galway

The 2026 Parade

17 Mar

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St Patricks Day Parade Galway

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.

LIVE DO NOT EDIT! GCI Activity Plan by Cristina Apavaloae

Study in the heart of Galway, Ireland

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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