Galway Traditional Boat Festival

Date: 15 August 2026 – 16 August 2026

Location: Galway Bay, Galway, Ireland

Organizer: Galway Tourism

The Galway Traditional Boat Festival gathers the surviving working boats of Galway Bay at the Claddagh, the old fishing quarter where the River Corrib meets the sea. The stars are the Galway Hookers, black-hulled wooden boats with tan sails, originally built to haul turf and cargo along this coast. All four types take part: the big Bad Mor, the Leathbhad, the smaller Gleoiteog and the Pucan, joined by currachs, the light traditional rowing boats of the west of Ireland. There is racing out on the bay, but much of the appeal is ashore, where you can get close to the boats and the people who build, maintain and sail them. Crews travel in from Connemara, north Clare and across County Galway. The 2026 festival runs on 15 and 16 August. For anyone curious about Ireland's working sail tradition, this is the real thing.

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