NOV/DEC 2018 // FREE // THISISGALWAY.IE
ISSUE # 14
DISCOVER NEW ADVENTURES FIND THE BEST PLACES IN GALWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO SHARE YOUR INTERESTS
WHAT’S INSIDE
4 8 17 20 24 26 29 38
BRENDA ROMERO // On games as art and artifacts
SHOP LOCAL // Find the perfect gift at Galway’s independent shops NEW FACES, FRESH PLACES // Discover brand-new restaurants and shops on our city EAT // Cosy coffee shops and cafés for cold weather
DAITHÍ // Where Irish trad meets electronic dance
BABORÓ // Dedicated to inspiring small children, this international arts festival returns to Galway in October DRINK // Dance all night at Galway’s late bars and nightclubs WHAT’S ON // Santa’s coming to town, and so are some amazing live gigs and club nights
WHO WE ARE... Art Direction & Design Martin Browne info@thisisgalway.ie
Photography Boyd Challenger boyd@thisisgalway.ie AdditionalPhotography Ciarán MacChoncarraige
Editor Caitlin Foley caitlin@thisisgalway.ie
Advertising Queries Maxi Browne maxi@thisisgalway.ie Image by: Boyd Challenger
Brenda Romero
Image by: Boyd Challenger
FEATURE
Romero Games are an independent game design company based right here in Galway, co-owned by the powerhouse couple Brenda and John Romero. John Romero is best-known as a co-founder of id Software and their work on the cult classic game Doom, which pioneered firstperson shooter games. He has cofounded eight successful software development companies, including Romero Games in 2015, and has worked on over 130 games over the course of his career. Brenda Romero is a BAFTA-award winning game designer, artist and Fulbright scholar, who has worked in the game industry since 1991. Her work spans both digital games and board games, including seminal titles like the Wizardry and Jagged Alliance series, and titles in the Ghost Recon, Dungeons & Dragons and Def Jam franchises. She also teaches workshops and writes books on game design. Romero Games have a team of fourteen artists, programmers, designers and QA testers behind them, and have two games in the making across multiple platforms. We chatted to Brenda about her work, her advice for newcomers to the gaming industry, and why her family chose to relocate from sunny southern San Francisco to Galway.
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1. What drew you to games and game design? I don’t remember ever not liking games. From the time I was five, I remember collecting game parts and creating my own games. I would collect Legos and create these make-believe worlds and I remember wanting other people to play in these make-believe worlds. I always loved making games or changing the rules to games and seeing how other people played. I don’t remember a time when that wasn’t something that I did. 2. You’ve achieved so much – how does it feel to reach and to inspire so many people on such a personal level, through something you love doing? I always feel like someone is talking about someone else when I hear these things. The coolest moments aren’t when I think of the things I’ve been lucky enough to do in my career. Super cool moments come when I do stuff like Babaro and I Wish. For example, at I Wish, 400 young girls are brought in to listen to four or five female speakers who love what they do. And to be able to share my excitement around tech with these young women and see them maybe come into the field as well, that to me is the coolest thing! That to me is the achievement. 3. Are there many creative differences between creating physical and digital games? What’s your favourite part of game development? Fundamentally no. you’re still creating a game, it still has rules, it still has the space in which its played whether it’s a table top or a PS4. There’s a lot of stuff that’s the same. Designing board games, I would say is more challenging- its completely exposed and has to hold people’s attention even though usually its just paper sitting on a table. Every board game I’ve made I’ve worked just by myself building it, whereas with digital games, our team will expand and improve my idea way beyond where I could’ve taken it. And this is absolutely what is happening with our team at Romero games, they’re absolutely amazing, the best team I’ve ever worked with.
4. Can you talk a bit about the Documentary Game, Train – why you wanted to create Documentary Games, what the process was like? My series of documentary games started out while my daughter was studying the Cromwellian invasion for school. She was getting fed up with it and asked could she go play a game, meaning PS4 or something like that. However, I said yes, and created a game about the Cromwellian invasion on the spot. The whole experience was really enlightening for her, she became part of it and it really stuck with her. I decided to create a series of documentary games with the intention of people living and understanding major events in history. Train is a game about complicity, and about blindly following the rules, even when those rules lead to horrible outcomes. Ultimately, it’s about breaking the systems, from outside if necessary, instead of being bound to them. 5. As a teacher of game design, what do you hope to pass on to your students? The more popular games get, the more people want to break into games. Students often tend to have the assumption that they take a four-year course and when they get out of college, they’re going to get a job. It’s not that simple. There are hundreds of students who want to break into the game industry. Let’s say we have a typical class of 20, at the end of the year they will all have to submit the same class project. What I want to know is what are you doing beyond that? What are you doing to make the difference between a graduating student and someone who is potentially going to break into the game industry. For example, I heard of this student who wrote his own game engine in C++ before he had even graduated! That was way above and beyond what he actually needed to do. So that’s my advice and what I would like to pass on to students is, work hard, be passionate, go above and beyond and put life into what you do. 6. Why did your family decide to settle in Galway? We came to Ireland and travelled from Dublin to Letterkenny to Galway to Kerry for two and a half months. And when we left and came back home to Silicon Valley, we just had a feeling that we really wanted to go back. The thing we loved most was the community, the people, and a feeling of wanting to be a part. We made the decision to pack up from Silicon Valley and move to Ireland. John and I wanted to raise our kids to grow up in that type of community. We chose Galway- It’s a very funky, creative community here. There is one of everything you need, It’s small but I’d never change it. I know Natalie who owns McCambridge’s, I know Jess and Dave Murphy who own Kai Restaurant. It is insane to me that I’m going to be on the cover of This Is Galway Magazine! I honestly don’t know why anyone would want to live anywhere else. We were here for 24 hours and we knew we wanted to live here, and we have 0 regrets about it.
7. Are you children into game design? My fourteen year old son actually has a game out on the app store called Gunman Taco Truck. It was featured by Apple and he’s had an article written about him in the Wall Street Journal! He won an accolade! That moment was cooler than winning the BAFTA. He made it, it was completely his idea; we just helped him make it. My 17-year-old daughter is working on a narrative game for a professional company, she’s writing for it. One of my kids still loves to play, but isn’t as interested in creating games, which is totally cool. She’s going to go to college and doing what she loves! Our kids are raised on games and in the gaming world, and if they want to go into it, [that’s] awesome -- we’ll help them out and give them any opportunities we can, and if not, they can do their thing! We just want them to be happy. 8. With Romero Games that you’ve created with your husband, and your children interested in creating games with you, how does it feel to have a family who are so passionate about the exact same thing as you. It’s the best thing in the world! I feel so fortunate. John and I love games and we want to share that experience with our kids. Not a day goes by that we don’t say how lucky we are. We have so much fun, we often all get together and play board games or we get together and play Minecraft. We have four great kids, we’re just so happy to live where we live and to do what we’re doing. 9. What projects are you excited about now, going forward? Anything released lately you’re playing or looking forward to playing? We’re planning on opening a museum in 2020! John has notebooks going back to when he was eleven years old. We can actually trace games like Doom which led to games like Pub G and we can trace that all the way back to the very beginning. We have in storage an entire archive that can trace the development of the most popular type of game from its very origins all the way through. Instead of just a museum where people walk in and see a bunch of consoles on the wall, people will experience how games are made. So that’s our next step and like everything else, we’re super excited!
Find out more about Brenda and John Romero and Romero Games at Brenda.games and RomeroGames.ie Words by: Éilis Cosgrove
“I honestly don’t know why anyone would want to live anywhere else. We were here for 24 hours and we knew we wanted to live here, and we have 0 regrets about it.”
Photo credit ‘BAFTA/Thomas Alexander’
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SHOP LOCAL! This Christmas, give a gift that will delight your loved ones and support your local community at the same time! Galway is full of unique, Irishowned independent shops which are essential to the spirit of our city. If you’re shopping anyway, be sure to shop local!
Image by: CiarĂĄn MacChoncarraige
FEATURE
So this is Christmas...
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Herterich’s Artisanal Butchers will be doing all the traditional family favourites this year. They’ll have home-cured and smoked hams, plus the absolute must haves for fry-ups on Christmas morning, and all things festive for your plates over the holidays! For those of you whose pallets may want for something a little different over the holidays (turkey and ham ain’t for everyone), the team at Herterich’s are going to be doing some alternative Christmas dinner ideas. This year there will be a feast of different options. Their menu is made up of lots of exciting new products including traditional brisquette, a 40-year-old blast from the past recipe for this brined beef cut. (Find it expertly cooked in Caribou restaurant currently!) They also have a range of new stuffings including Sweet Italian, Smoked Chipotle, Laos and Argentinian along with the traditional of course. If a prawn cocktail starter isn’t your thing, why not try shaking things up and indulging in their award-winning Spanish Morcilla pudding with some of Gannet’s scallops instead? Or make some Scotch eggs with their range of stuffings as opposed to the sausage roll. Don’t feel like boilng a ham this year? Try their roast cuts, a marinated leg of pork or a full shoulder -- they make a truly feast-worthy display and you get to have lots of crackling! The latest addition to their ever growing options will be wild venison, a special treat for those of you who like a bit of game in the oven. The team at Herterich’s recently won 4 regional gold awards for their products and have just taken home a trophy from the All Ireland National Craft Butchers Awards. They will be giving out recipe cards and instructions on how to make the perfect Christmas dinner. It’s easy to go to the supermarket and get it all done in one but if you want something special and full of flavour, made with quality cuts of meat, then you need to get into the guys at Herterich’s! They want you to have the best Christmas dinner that suits you and your family, and they can help you make it happen. 1 Lombard Street, Galway
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Perfect For Christmas The Exclusive Limited Edition R are Irish G old Cl addagh Ring. Only avail able from Cl addagh Jeweller s.
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Comes a r are metal as old as the earth e arth itself.
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Drop in store, shop online or Click & Collect yo ur item in store
25 Mainguard Street, Galway. Tel: 091 562 554 www.TheCladdagh.com |
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It Music For the music-lovers on your list, It Music is the place to go. This family-run business has all kinds of musical instruments available, from awesome guitars and amplifiers to fiddles, flutes, harps and pretty much anything else you might be looking for. If you’re not shopping for an instrument, treat someone to all the gadgets and accessories they could ever want: a set of pedals, new strings, a fancy new case or a comfy new piano bench. It Music have it all, and their staff will be happy to give some advice and help you find whatever you’re looking for, even if you’re not quite sure what that is! 7 Forster Court, Galway
LANIDOR LANIDOR Ladies Fashion launched its flagship Irish store in October 2017 at 30 Eyre Street, Galway. This premium Portuguese brand has been in existence for over 50 years and the LANIDOR Galway store is the first and only one in Ireland. LANIDOR’s arrival has energised the Galway fashion scene and has proven very popular with locals and visitors alike. The innovative style concept of the collection brings a uniquely different and exciting aspect to ladies fashion in Galway. The store on Eyre Street carries a wide selection of dressy casual wear as well as unique occasion wear pieces. “I feel LANIDOR clothes are very unique with vibrant colours and patterns and offer great quality at a very reasonable price point. They have something to suit all age groups and all shapes.” -- Claire Golden, Stylist and Personal Shopper. In its first year in business, LANIDOR was runner up in the Best of Galway Awards and won the award for “Best Shop Layout and Design in Galway” in the JCI Galway Friendly Business Awards, along with winning “Best Shop Window” by Galway Race Committee. 30 Eyre Street, Galway City
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Cobwebs Make it a glam Christmas by popping into Cobwebs. This lovely local jewellers has a stunning stock of antique and modern jewels, engagement rings and unique gifts. They specialise in stunning precious stone rings but you will also find watches, pendants and jewellery for everyday wear. Everything in the shop is selected with quality in mind, and their staff will work with you to find a gift that suits your budget. 7 Quay Lane, Galway City
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Or Jewellery Is a Contemporary boutique that has been bringing new and unique jewellery lines from around the world to Galway for 2 years now. They stock a fantastic selection of Gold, Silver & costume jewellery at great prices, as well as an array of beautiful stand out in pieces that are sure to wow the fashionista in your life. 42 Willian Street, Galway City
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Francis’ Soap Shop Treat someone on your list to a customised and beautifully wrapped skincare experience! Francis’ Soap Shop stock natural body care items from around the world including organic, cold-pressed oils, Aleppo soap, Thaitian coconut oil, and organic dead sea salt from Jordan. Create your own basket with items of your choosing for the perfect spa at home treat. You can find Francis’ Soap Shop downstairs in Corbett Court, or shop from the comfort of your own home by using their website: www.francissoap.shop Unit 7 (Level 1), Corbett Court, Galway
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McCambridges of Galway Their hampers are on every good Galwegian’s Christmas list. Delightfully wrapped and presented, McCambridge’s Christmas hampers are full of different combinations of wine, cheese, locally-made treats, chutneys, crackers, and everything anyone could need for a good Christmas gathering. They’re as fun to pull apart as they are to devour! 38 - 39 Shop Street, Galway
1984 Miracles Somewhere between athletic wear and sportcasual, 1984’s clothing is colourful, fun and comfortable. They stock two main brands: Elade for the lads and Femistories for women. Both are small independent clothing retailers, making high-quality, on-trend clothing. You won’t find the brands anywhere else in Ireland and the stock inside limited, so it’s the perfect place to grab a gift for someone who likes their individual flair. St Augustine Street, Galway
Carousel Carousel recently opened their third Irish location at Lower Middle Street in Galway City. Carousel is an Irish designed, vintage inspired women’s boutique. Their in-house brand “Circus” is designed by their team and manufactured in their Sedex-approved partner factory in India. Circus is bursting with rich colour and unique, fun prints, all combined with classic shapes that flatter and fit well. Circus is for the woman who likes to express her personal style, and stand out in a world full of homogeneous fashion. Easy to style, comfortable but chic, the Circus range allows you to get on with modern life in vintage style. Circus in partnership with Good Earth India promotes safe working conditions, equal opportunity, and a decent living wage. Get 20% off any full price purchase: just mention “Circus: Vintage inspired, Irish designed, ethically made.” Valid until December 9th 2018! Terms and conditions apply.
DC Store Galway For stylish streetwear, including winter coats, beanies and shoes from some of the world’s premiere skate brands, DC Store is the place to go! DC Store is a family-run business truly rooted in the community, regularly welcoming transition year students and supporting Galway’s skate scene since their opening. They usually run some great bundle deals through the holidays so keep an eye out! Cross Street, Galway
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SHOP LOCAL We asked one Galway business owner about the importance of shopping local, during the Christmas season and year round. ** By keeping it local and supporting small business, it helps promote a healthy local economy, employs local people, and fosters an environment for community involvement to support the needs of that local community. Local business is where you and your children will get their early introductions to work experience and summer jobs. Local business is where all the spot prizes and sponsorship comes from that fundraise for local schools, clubs and charities. Before you plan a trip out of town or go online, think about the benefits of shopping locally and how it affects you, your family, your neighbour, and the community that you love, live in, and work in. When you shop at home you are creating jobs, investing in more neighbourhood developments and promoting community development. When shopping at home you are often greeted by the owner, your neighbour or your friend, who show their gratitude by providing you personal customer service every time; meaningful customer service because it matters to them that you are satisfied and will come back. Local businesses and their employees invest back into the community. They give back to the community by volunteering their time at non-profit and charity events, coaching sports teams etc‌ They are the sponsors of many community events and projects. In many ways, the euro’s you spend locally are returned to you. None of us like losing our local shop or services. As we approach the Christmas holiday shopping season, remember the impact your euros have on your local community. Shopping and doing business at home is all it takes to improve and grow the community we love, live in, work in, that gives back to us. John Deely, Latin Quarter, DC Store.Galway
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FRESH PLACES NEW FACES Brand spanking new businesses to check out in Galway!
The Dockside Deli Galway Bay Seafoods have just opened an innovative new space, offering cold and hot seafood choices, ready-made to eat on the spot or take home for dinner. Their goal is to showcase the natural abundance of seafood and seaweed on Ireland’s west coast, and to help all of us incorporate more fresh, healthy seafood into our diets! Galway Bay Seafoods, New Docks, Galway
2 Wild Geese 2 Wild Geese will open its doors in the Corbett Court Shopping Centre in late November, boasting a wide and varied collection of products from local designers, artists and craftspeople. Owned by Maggie Murphy and Luke Anthony, the retail store will feature a mix of high-quality products that have been designed, made or up-cycled in Ireland. Offering a mix of Space-for-Rent and Retail, 2 WildGeese will allow designers to choose between floor space for furniture or stands; wall space for art; shelf and table space for various products; or rack space for prints. For more information, visit www.2wildgeese.ie or email on maggie@2wildgeese.ie or luke@2wildgeese.ie
NEW FACES
Pelo If you like getting around the place on two wheels, whether it’s mountain paths or city streets, Pelo is a place to check out. They’re cycling fanatics and are looking forward to making cycling more accessible and welcoming for people of all ages and abilities in Galway. Call in to shop bikes, parts, check out a workshop or get some advice! 6 Centrepoint, Liosban Business Park, Tuam Road // +353(0)91 394 590
Ground & Co Knocknacarra Salthill’s beloved Ground & Co café have expanded to a Knocknacarra location! It’s smaller but properly cute and cosy, great for a quick sit-down or a takeaway. You can expect the same great coffee and delicious food you love! Shangort Road, Knocknacarra
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COSY COFFEE SHOPS & CAFES COSY VIBES ONLY Keep it cosy this winter with speciality coffee and rich hot chocolates in some of your favourite cafés around town. With shorter days and more rain, the prom strolls become fewer and far between, so make some of these cafés part of your weekly routine instead!
Image by: Boyd Challenger
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The Merchant Café and Bar
Coffeewerk + Press
Located right around the corner from Eyre Square, The Merchant Café is an ideal place to people-watch! With warm lighting, rustic fixtures and exposed brick, it has an urban chic Parisian atmosphere. They serve a wholesome breakfast menu throughout the day as well as lunch and, of course, lots of coffee.
When it gets too chilly to people-watch on their small outside terrace, head upstairs to one of the little nooks and tables. Here you’ll find a record player with a stack of vinyls to choose from, a beautifully curated collection of Scandinavian-style homeware, books and kitsch, and a bird’s eye view of Quay Street.
6 Forster Street, Galway // +353(0)91 864 810
4 Quay St, City Centre // +353 (091) 448667
Builín Blasta
Temple Café
This charming little café is based in the Gaeltacht village of Spiddal, just steps from the Wild Atlantic Way and surrounded by the Craft Village (which is well worth a wander itself!). Everything they do is homemade and locally sourced for extra homeliness.
Tucked away inside the Cornstore mall, Temple Café is the perfect place to relax over a cup of coffee and a healthy lunch. Sofas on the mid-level and a private-feeling upstairs are both perfect options for some low-key chill time.
16, Ceardlann Design Centre, Spiddal // +353 (0)91 558559
The Cornstore, Middle Street // +353(0)91 568 776 SOCIAL WHITE:
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Lane Café
Brazco Coffee Academy
Take a detour of bustling Quay Street and head for this cosy cafe just around the corner on Druid Lane. Exposed wood and the smell of warm pastries makes this little space the perfect spot to warm up on a cold afternoon. Even their sheltered back garden is cute and cosy for nicer days! They serve sandwiches, soups, pastries and of course great coffee, and they offer free wifi too if you fancy sitting down for a while.
This local favourite in Oranmore is a perfect stop-off for a coffee-loving bookworm. They have bookshelves filled with new and secondhand books from Charlie Byrne’s bookshop if you’ve forgotten to take your own along, or just feel like having a peruse while you wait for your coffee. Carraig Láir, Oranmore, Co. Galway // +353 (0)91 792896
1 Druid Lane, Galway // +353(0)91 536 980
Renzo Gallery Café
Mocha Beans
The walls here are full of second-hand books and exhibitions from local artists, since the café also acts as a gallery space! It’s a very artsy space to retreat from the chilly autumn weather and enjoy a coffee and one of their delicious toasted sandwiched for lunch.
Leather couches, wool throws and exposed brickwork make Mocha Beans in Newcastle the picture-perfect cosy café for cold weather. They roast all their coffee beans in house, so it smells absolutely wonderful all through the day. Sit down to a power breakfast or a filling, wholesome lunch and while away a couple hours reading or studying!
32 Eyre Street, Galway // +353(0)91 568 888 25 Lower Newcastle Road, Galway // +353 (0)91 522868
Visiting Galway City this Christmas for shopping? Be sure to include a trip to Galway’s 56 Central Restaurant on Shop Street, above OMG @Zhivago. 56 Central has something to appeal to everyone’s appetite over the Christmas season! This large family friendly restaurant easily caters for big groups and children, with kids’ menus including pizzas, smoothies and mini-dinners. Colouring pencils are always at hand and high chairs are plentiful. The spacious, airy restaurant offers some amazing views of the Shop Street Christmas lights with window seats filling up fast. It’s a perfect spot for a girly catch up over a glass of bubbles or mulled wine, and the wine cellar is packed with great quality wines and beers. Enjoy healthy salads, gourmet sandwiches or bigger plates of burgers, fish & chips and roast dinners. 56 Central boasts a magnificent display of homemade cakes, scones and mince pies for you to enjoy. They pair perfectly with ta signature gourmet hot chocolate such as their Nutella Hazelnut or Salted Caramel hot chocolate -- or simply enjoy a coffee from the Bristol Coffee range. Bookings are now being taken for small or large parties for both day or night by emailing info@56central.com 37 West Cafe is their sister cafe location on Newcastle Road, open 7 days a week. It’s the number one spot for all-day brunch on a Sunday! See you in our happy places this Christmas!
Image credit: Niamh Dolphin
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DAITHÍ For anyone that’s being living under a rock for the last few years, can you give us a quick introduction to yourself and your sound?
By now, Daithí O’Dronai is a household name in the Irish music scene. His music is steeped in Irish culture and heritage, but it’s also incredibly new, surprising and catchy. 2018 was an incredible year for Daithí; he closed out Electric Picnic on the Body & Soul stage and has some hyped collaborations in the works. Ahead of his return to the Róisín Dubh for a December gig, we got the chance to chat about new projects, Galway’s music scene and Ireland’s top service stations. (Sure what else?)
I’m a music producer inspired by Irish culture, mainly dance music based. My live shows are live electronic performances, with analog synths and looped fiddle over house music beats. Currently I’m working on a project called L.O.S.S, which is a group of tracks based around loss, and how people recover from it. How do you see the music scene progressing in Galway? Is it possible to ‘make it’ here? There’s a really interesting dance music scene coming up in the generation younger than me, college students in the city always lead the charge for the home grown stuff I think. Right now I think the most exciting acts coming out of the city are Anna Mullarkey, and Kettema. It’s definitely possible to have a long lasting music career in Galway. It’s an incredibly inspiring place. You just need to hustle like crazy. You’ve recently moved to Dublin. Did you feel there might be more opportunity to further yourself musically there? To be honest not at all, I found that I can have a music career anywhere in the country really, you just need to be able to drive! I mainly moved for social reasons, I felt I needed a change. I still come back to Galway all of the time though, I definitely still consider it my home, and love it there. You recently collaborated with Paul Noonan from Bell X1. How was that? It was really amazing. I had been a huge fan of Bell X1 since I was young, and I always thought Paul was one of the best lyricists in the country. He was top of my list to work with on this current project, so I was delighted.
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What have been your own personal highlights for 2018, as it was such a big year for you? Who’s next on the collaboration radar? Who would be the dream collaboration? I’ve just released two tracks a few weeks ago, one with my long time collaborator Sinead White, and another with Dublin band Tandem Felix. There’s a few more collaborations in the bank, I’m looking forward to releasing them. As for dream collaborators, I just really love the great songwriters we have in Ireland, I’d love to work with people like Villagers or Lisa Hannigan. Creating weirder electronic sounds around voices like that really excites me.
Image credit: Christian Tierney
Electric Picnic was amazing. We had been working on that show for the entire year, it was one of my biggest goals, closing out Electric Picnic on the Body & Soul stage. I wanted to really put on something special, so we had two drummers, a vocalist for the entire show, a guitarist, Elaine Mai, all playing a live, huge version of the tracks everyone knows. Mary Keane’s Introduction in particular was a crazy special moment. Other than that, myself and Lochlainn McKenna made a video for my track ‘In My Darkest Moments’ which was based on male loneliness in rural Ireland, and I think it’s the best all together piece I’ve ever worked on. The music and the visuals together are really special.
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You return to the Roisin Dubh on December 20th; can we expect anything new? Any surprises planned, special guests? I have a new show that I’ve been pulling together this year, with lots of new music. It sounds huge, a little darker and a bit more strange to what I usually do. Cannot wait to return to the Roisin, it’s always the best. Favourite venues to play? The Roisin is up there of course, I also really love Connolly’s of Leap in west Cork. There’s a festival in Achill called Battle For The Lake which I play every year, it’s an incredible place for a festival, just beautiful. Favourite acts out there at the moment? Jon Hopkins put out my favourite record this year, with Pusha T’s Daytona a close second. I also really love the new Saint Sister record. I’m currently listening to Thom Yorke’s soundtrack to Suspiria which is really great, very VERY creepy. Word on the street is that you’re quite the authority on Irish service stations, like to tell us about a couple of your favourites? You heard correct, I’m the authority on service stations in Ireland. Junction 14 Mayfield is still the nation’s favourite I think. I’m a big fan of the Kilmartin services in Athlone, for the amount of choice alone. The big battle currently raging is in Ballindine, where there’s two very very good service stations on either side of the town. Incredibly hard to pick a side. It’s a while now since ‘Mary Keane’s Introduction’ made such a huge impact on Irish people everywhere. How much does your family continue to inspire the music that you make? My family has always been a huge inspiration to me. My grandfather on the other side to Mary Keane is Chris Droney, a very well known concertina player. He’s still performing so much even into old age, it’s incredibly inspiring. Can you let us know what 2019 might hold for Daithi? I’m hoping to release my next album. My last one was in 2014 so it’s been a long time. Fingers crossed! See Daithí live at the Róisín Dubh on 20 December. Tickets from roisindubh.net for €14. SOCIAL WHITE:
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LATE BARS & CLUBS! PARTY ALL NIGHT!! Galway is known for its vibrant nightlife, with streets full of late bars, some of the best club nights around, and live music every night of the week.
Image by: Boyd Challenger
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Electric Garden & Theatre For 6 years now, The Electric, Garden & Theatre have excelled with their Eat, Drink and Dance Brand whilst providing Galway with a great night out. The Electric Theatre itself is an 800 capacity ballroom that has staged huge acts and unforgettable nights, Tiga, Felix Da Housecat, Dimitri from Paris. 2 Many Djs and Moodymann to name a few! While the Theatre may well be the beating heart of this venue, there’s so much more going on here. By contrast, The Factory fosters the more underground act whilst providing a great platform for new ideas to grow! Or there’s the Opulant Glasshouse on the top floor; serving the best classic cocktails, how about the heated rooftop Garden, a nightclub in it’s own right with a fully functional smoking area, expect some of the best parties in town. Biteclub is the final piece of the puzzle, a Disco Diner renowned for it’s tasty streetfood, creative alcoholic bevvys, entertainment & dancing! Be sure to keep an eye out for the now infamous Disco Brunches. 36 Upper Abbeygate Street, Galway
Halo Halo is a properly grown up spot on Abbeygate Street, with a luxurious, elegantly decorated venue that spans two floors. They have a total of five bars, all serving up a signature range of cocktails, lovely pints, a variety of spirits, and bottled brews. The place certainly has a feel of sophistication about it, but is also always a great buzz for a night out. If you’re over-23, you can definitely count on enjoying yourself here! info@halonightclub.com 36 Upper Abbeygate Street, Galway
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The Dáil Bar Did you know the Dáil Bar is open until 2AM, 7 nights a week? Live music and entertainment, DJ sets on the weekends, a cracking pint, and delicious food during the day – this place has it all, no matter what you’re looking for. It’s an iconic spot at this stage – an inviting venue on the corner of Cross Street and Middle Street. You’re guaranteed that there’s always something on at the Dáil, day and night. 42 Middle Street, Latin Quarter, Galway
Busker Brownes Located at the heart of Galway’s Latin Quarter on Cross Street, Busker Browne’s is a household name for the craic in town. A well-loved favourite of both locals and tourists, young and old. It’s a great spot for live music and delicious drinks. Busker’s is a true taste of Galway hospitality, hopping until the early hours. The benefit is that Busker’s also houses the gorgeous Kirby’s Restaurant – for that bit of soakage before your night on the town! 5 Cross Street Upper, Latin Quarter, Galway
The Front Door The Front Door is just the place to be for a late night in Galway; it’s a much-loved historic pub at the centre of the much-loved Latin Quarter. You’re certainly spoiled for choice here, with a dizzying variety of artisan cocktails and wines – not to mention the gin menu, with tonics and garnishes available to match them all! It’s also a solid choice for a sweet, sweet pint in a prime location. Highly recommended! 8 Cross Street Upper, Latin Quarter, Galway
Taylor’s Bar & Beer Garden Taylor’s is an authentic Irish grocery bar that dates back to the early 19th Century and has all original timber work and stained glass. They have live music in the bar seven nights a week and stay open late ‘til 2am with Djs on Fridays and Saturdays. One of Galway’s best beer gardens is out the back beside the canal and they take bookings for parties with food options available. Already well known for their superb pint, they also boast extensive gin and whiskey lists, delectable wines & fantastic cocktails with monthly specials. For sports there are seven screens including two in the garden where the infamous Handsome Burger food stall will be set up every weekend until Christmas. Call in and check em out! If you are planning a party or have an occasion to celebrate, you can phone on 091 450475 or email manager@taylorsgalway.ie 7 Dominick Street Upper, Galway’s Westend
LATE BARS
DNA is Galway’s newest, premium late-night venue located right on Eyre Square. Designed with style in mind, DNA is elegant and sprawling with four bars over three levels. Their premiere sound and lighting system has played host to top DJs and always delivers on an unrivaled clubbing experience. If you’re heading out for a special celebration or want to treat yourself and your mates to a great night, DNA’s VIP section boasts a private entrance with a private smoking terrace and plenty of comfortable semi-private booths for relaxing, while the state-of-the-art bar, bottle service and table service will have you partying in style all night long. The VIP area is available for Christmas bookings and private parties. For group bookings, call 091 500 330 or email hello@dnagalway.com DNA Galway App- download for free from Google Play / App store. #loyaltypays Once you have experienced a night out with DNA and get discounts straight to your phone, you will wonder how you ever lived without the app.
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RÓISÍN DUBH DOMINICK STREET, GALWAY. LATE BAR WITH DJS 7 NIGHTS
THE BEST LATE BAR IN THE WHEST EVERY SUNDAY 11:30PM, €6
EVERY THURSDAY 11:30PM, Free
JOHN CONNEELY INC.
A collection of musicians and friends playing some unique renditions of some well known Jazz and Blues tunes along with some of John’s original material. With a big voice and an even bigger beard he makes every song his own.
this session, If you’re not at ndays wrong! you’re doing Su
EVERY MONDAY 11pm, Free
EVERY TUESDAY 11pm, €6, (Includes a Free Shot of Jager)
BIG SILENT DISCO
Club night with Seshion One UV Facepainting and shennanigans.
ORCHID COLLECTIVE THE WOOD BURNING SAVAGES Sun 18th Nov STEPHEN JAMES SMITH Wed 21st Nov KIRAN LEONARD Fri 23rd Nov THE RIPTIDE MOVEMENT Fri 23rd Nov STEVE BENNETT Sat 24th Nov JOIN ME IN THE PINES Sun 25th Nov HUGH CORNWELL ELECTRIC (The Stranglers) RYAN MCMULLAN Sat 1st Dec 3pm show added
TICKETS & INFO
Sun 2nd Dec Thu 6th Dec Fri 7th Dec Sat 8th Dec Sat 8th Dec Fri 14th Dec Sat 15th Dec Sun 16th Feb Thu 20th Dec Sat 22nd Dec Sun 23rd Dec
WITH DAVID RUDOLF
THE WATERBOYS
FRIDAY 23RD NOVEMBER 11:30pm, Free, Upstairs
VILLAGERS
THANK GOD IT’S SIMON
FRIDAY 9TH & 30TH NOVEMBER 11pm, €8 CLUB GASS LGBT Club night EVERY SATURDAY* 11pm, Free
EXCEPT SATURDAY 20TH NOVEMBER 11:30pm, €5, (Includes a Free Shot of Jager)
SILENT DISCO GRUFF RHYS STEPHANIE RAINEY LITTLE GREEN CARS DIRTY CIRCUS AINE CAHILL LAOISE FONTAINES DC DAVID KEENAN DAITHI TALOS THE ACADEMIC
SAT 1ST DECEMBER LEISURELAND
THU 13TH DECEMBER BLACK BOX THEATRE
HERMITAGE GREEN SAT 22ND DECEMBER BLACK BOX THEATRE
THE STUNNING
THE FRANK & WALTERS SAT 29TH DECEMBER LEISURELAND
THE HIGH KINGS SAT 18TH JANUARY LEISURELAND
JASON BYRNE
COMING SOON TO RÓISÍN DUBH Fri 16th Nov Sat 17th Nov
INSIDE THE STAIRCASE
FRIDAY 2ND, 16TH & 23RD NOVEMBER 11:30pm, Free
With DJs Gugai & Ted. Music you love, music you love to hate & all your IDIOTEQUE: DJ GRAHAM DOLAN guilty pleasures. Indie, hip hop, funk & more with Graham Dolan EVERY WEDNESDAY 11pm, Free, Upstairs 11:30pm, €5, (Includes a Free Shot of Jager) MASHOLE
ULTRA VIOLET
THU 15TH NOVEMBER LEISURELAND
TUE 27TH NOVEMBER TOWN HALL THEATRE
With DJ Dave Barry. Funk, soul and then some.
Hip hop with Lolz & Simon
NELLY
THANK GOD IT’S SIMON
SHUFFLE
THAT’S WHAT’S UP
RÓISÍN DUBH PRESENTS
Sun 30th Dec MICK FLANNERY Mon 31st Dec NEW YEARS EVE WITH LE BOOM Sun 10th Feb DANNY O’BRIEN Fri 22nd Feb CORY WONG Fri 1st Mar HAYSEED DIXIE Thu 28th Mar WHITE LIES Fri 29th Mar LEE SCRATCH PERRY Sat 13th Jul THE BIG GERANIUMS & MANY MORE
WWW.RÓISÍNDUBH.NET AND OMG@ZHIVAGO, SHOP ST., GALWAY 091 509 960
YOU CAN COME IN BUT DON’T START ANYTHING SAT 9TH MARCH BLACK BOX THEATRE
JOHN GRANT SAT 30TH MARCH LEISURELAND
PATTON OSWALT FRI 7TH JUNE LEISURELAND
FACEBOOK.COM/RÓISÍNDUBHGALWAY TWITTER.COM/RÓISÍNDUBHPUB
WHAT’S going ON?
HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT’S ON
Nelly
Ultan Conlon and the Night Owls
The Nutcracker
Nelly hit the world with a bang when he emerged with his debut album ‘Country Grammar’ in 2000 which has now sold over 8.4 million copies to date. His Irish tour brings him to Galway for one night in November!
Ultan combines common themes and familiar situations with coherent prose and wraps them around musical styles rooted deeply in traditional rock and roll, country and folk.
This holiday season, experience the magic of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker performed by Ballet Ireland in the Town Hall Theatre. After all, Christmas only begins once you’ve experienced the fairy tale magic of this festive favourite.
15 November // Leisureland
23 November // Black Gate Cultural Centre
19 Nov - 20 Nov // Town Hall Theatre
Declan O’Rourke
LAOISE
Daithí
To celebrate the re-release of his classic 2004 debut, O’Rourke will take members of the original band around Ireland this December for a handful of nostalgic, and uplifting shows.
Galway native LAOISE’s sound incorporates synth, soul and alternative pop and has skyrocketed her into top charts in 2018.
His sound is all his own, blending old Irish samples, nature recordings and analog synths in a live improvised performance. His dance music brings in drum machines, synths and even live fiddle.
11 December // Town Hall Theatre
14 December // Roisin Dubh
20 December // Roisin Dubh
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CHRISTMAS CALENDAR
A time for family, cosying up by the fire, mince pies and giving… and more mince pies!
Galway Continental Christmas Market Galway’s annual Christmas market returns to Eyre Square this year, full of Christmas cheer. As in past years you can expect a German Bier Keller, a Ferris wheel, Santa’s Grotto and stalls selling hot food and Christmas gifts lining the paths. 16 November - 22 December // Eyre Square
Galway Skates
Slieve Aughty Christmas Festival Santa will be making a stop at Slieve Aughty centre again this year! Come visit Santa for a fun-filled day with nature, animals and festive activities for all the family to enjoy. Pet Santa’s pony-reindeer and donkeys at the pet farm! You can even take a ride on one of them in the sand arena. See what the fairies are up to in the Enchanted Forest and meet the Wise Owl who appears throughout the day. There will be arts and crafts, face painting and you can meet the friendly Polar Bear! 1 to 23 December // Slieve Aughty Centre // pre-booking required
Lace up your skates because Galways renowned ice-skating rink is back this Christmas! Expect to see Galways Leisureland transformed into one of Galway’s best Christmas attractions. This year’s Galway Skates is bigger and better than ever with a 500m squared ice rink that overlooks the promenade in Salthill! 17 November to 6 January // Leisureland, Salthill // pre-booking required
Loughrea Icebreakers Christmas Day Swim Fancy a swim this Christmas day? Who doesn’t! Join the annual Loughrea Christmas day swim this year and help raise money for CASA Loughrea. No better preparation before you eat half your bodyweight in turkey and Christmas pudding! Sponsorship cards are available from the O2 Store on the Main Street in Loughrea or text “swim” to 086-6614866 with your name and address and one will be posted out to you.
WHAT’S ON
Local Food and Craft Fair This annual celebration of crafters and local producers is the perfect place to stock up on special ingredients for Christmas dinner, or find a handmade gift for someone special. From locally-crafted chocolates to small-batch jellies, mustards and whiskey, there’s something for every taste! They also have beautiful homewares, jewellery and art for sale over the weekend. 1 and 2 December // Black Box Theatre
Santa’s On His Way... to the Burren Nature Santuary
Santa In the Eyre Square Shopping Centre Looking for something free to do with the kids to get you in that Christmas spirit? Head to the Eyre Square Shopping Centre, which will be welcoming Santa and bursting with free activities on the day including face painting, balloon modelling, magic shows and Kids Disco! Santa and his elves will meet and greet with the children.
Meet Santa by the fire, chat to Mrs Claus in her kitchen and see the elves making toys and wooden fairy doors in their workshop! Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies for the kids with Mrs Claus in her kitchen, while adults can enjoy mulled wine and home-baked cakes! Santa knows the name of each child and has a hand-crafted gift for each one. After meeting the elves, Santa will then bring you to meet his farm pets, including the micro pig, Burren goats, donkeys and friends. Plenty of more fun surprises at Burren Nature Sanctuary this Christmas! Weekends, 9 - 23 December // Burren Nature Sanctuary // pre-booking required
Galway Christmas Farmers Market Galway’s oldest market will be even more food and local craft over the Christmas season! The Christmas market runs every day from 9am to 6pm from the 14th to the 24th of December, with lots of homemade Christmas foodstuffs and a very merry atmosphere.
2 December // Eyre Square Shopping Centre
14 - 24 December // St Nicholas Church
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WHERE IT’S AT
This is a list of places mentioned in the articles in order of appearance. Each business has a number with which you’ll be able to use to find them on the map above. 1. Herterichs 12. Carousel 23. Brazco Coffee Academy 2. Claddagh Jewellers 13. DC Store Galway 24. Renzo Gallery Cafe 3. It Music 14. The Dockside Deli 25. Mocha Beans Newcastle 4. Lanidor 15. 2 Wild Geese 26. 56 Central 5. Lazlo Jewellers 16. Pelo 27. 37 West 6. Snap Fitness 17. Ground & Co Knocknacarra 28. Electric Garden & Theatre 7. Cobwebs 18. The Merchant Cafe and Bar 29. Halo 8. Ór Jewellery 19. Coffeewerk + Press 30. The Dail Bar 9. Francis’ Soap Shop 20. Builin Blasta 31. Busker Brownes 10. McCambridge 21. Temple Cafe 32. The Front Door 11. 1984 Miracles 22. Lane Cafe 33. Taylor’s Bar 34. DNA
Advertise with us Each month, This is Galway’s magazine shines a spotlight on local eateries, pubs and clubs, cultural destinations as well as events across the County. It’s an essential resource for visitors who want to dive straight into the heart of the place, and locals looking for a bit of inspiration. To advertise with us in future issues or to stock the magazine in your space, send an email to: maxi@thisisgalway.ie
Image by: Ciarán MacChoncarraige