Welcome

…when choosing the name, we did not foresee how topical it would become. We chose it for the coming season, first and foremost because a strong presence of the voice emerged in programming: it will be celebrated in choral settings, as we welcome one of the world’s finest vocal ensembles, Stile Antico, and in Galway Messiah, an exciting participatory event in association with Resurgam. Young singers of the INO studio will bring an operatic element to the season, while tenor Gavan Ring with pianist Fiachra Garvey will introduce us to McNeff's Ballads of a Bogman.

We are living in times of turmoil. There is political upheaval, and with wars and economic uncertainty, the arts, which only a few short years ago during the pandemic were so clearly valued, are coming under increased pressure. As we face all of this, we choose to breathe and to continue our mission to deliver excellence, to challenge but also to bring solace, to create a space in which we can continue, all of us, to come together and catch our breath.

As the arts come under pressure, so does funding for the arts. We would not be able to deliver on an annual basis were it not for the support that we receive from donors and sponsors. This year we are delighted to announce a three-year sponsorship with Aerogen - and again, our season’s name could not be more fitting, as Aerogen aims to help people do exactly that - breathe.

Heartfelt thanks to all of our funders: Arts Council, Galway City Council, Galway County Council, our partners, especially our strategic partner the University of Galway, our sponsors and all of our generous donors who keep our oxygen flowing.

And now, we invite you to breathe this new air and enjoy the season with us!

Anna Lardi, CEO
Finghin Collins, Artistic Director
Suzanne Black, Programme Administrator