Galway’s Marine Month of Madness

This year's Marine Month of Madness will run from the 12th May to the 10th June. Marine Month of Madness  is a series of events in which local organisations and people come together to celebrate Galway and Ireland's Marine traditions and resources. Partner organisations include: Irish Wildlife Trust, Ryan Institute at NUI Galway, Galway City Council, Marine Institute, Inland Fisheries Ireland, Spideal Dive School, DERI at NUI Galway, Galway Dive School, Glan Suas Gaillimh, Galway Kayak Club, Galway Dive Club, Galway Atlantaquaria and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.

Click here for downloadable calendar

Marine Month of Madness lecture series

Each Wednesdayy at 7 o’clock free talks will be held in Galway Atantaquaria, Salthill on different aspects of Marine Life and the Oceans. Spaces are limited so pre booking is essential. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to book. 

Wednesday the 16th May at 7.00pm: “Sea, winds and tides in Galway Bay: long-term changes & local communities” by Prof. Michael O'Connell, NUI Galway

Wednesday the 23rd May at 7.00pm: "Fishing Gears of the Galway Fleet – How do they catch the Fish?” by Dr. Peter Tyndall, BIM

Wednesday the 30th May at 7.00pm: "Flora, fauna, intrigue and mystery. Tales from the Galapagos" by Dr. Pauhla McGrane, GMIT

Wednesday the 6th June at 7.00pm: "Dolphins in Decline: Why we should care and what we should do" Jaimie-Leigh Jonker, NUI Galway

Family Events

Fisheries Awareness Week, Open Day - Saturday the 12th May, Inland Fisheries, Earls Island, Galway

A fun day out for all the family at Inland Fisheries in Galway. There will be something for all the family with casting demonstrations, flytying, facepainting, barbeque and display stands. For more information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 091 563118

Fisheries Awareness Week Fishing Tuition - Monday the 14th May & Friday the 18th May.

Practise your fishing with the experts at Silverstrand, Barna on the 14th May or at Lettergesh beach, Connemara on Friday the 18th between 5pm and 9pm. For more information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 091 563118

Canal Clean Up – Saturday the 19^th May, 11am at Fisheries Field

Litter is more than just an eyesore; it is a global issue that represents a major threat to many vulnerable species. It is estimated that globally, over a million birds and 100,000 marine mammals and turtles die every year from entanglement or ingestion of plastics. As part of Marine Month of Madness, Galway City Council and Glan Suas Gaillimh are looking for volunteers to help clean up our local canals as part of an Taisce's Cleancoast week. If you are interested in helping call down to Fisheries Field at 11am on the 19th May. All are welcome. Suitable clothes should be worn and bags, pickers, gloves etc will be provided.

Beach Safari - Explore the Shore, Saturday the 26th May, 2pm at Grattan Beach

This is your chance to explore your local shore with experts from the Galway Branch of the Irish Wildlife Trust and Galway Atlantaquaria in celebration of International Biodiversity Day. Everybody is welcome including families. Come along and see some of the creatures and plants that inhabit the rockpools and sand along the Irish coastline. Bring your binoculars as well and see how many types of birds you can spot. With experts on hand to help identify and talk about the inhabitants of the shore this will be a fun day out for everybody. Suitable clothing should be worn and the safari will start at Grattan Beach, Salthill at 2 o'clock. For more information contact 091 585100 or check out the websites at www.nationalaquarium.ie and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Canoe Polo Demonstration - Saturday & Sunday the 2nd & 3rd June in the Claddagh Basin

This June Bank Holiday weekend will see the Galway Kayak Club hold the Galway Canoe Polo Open 2012. This is the fifthth year of the competition and its fourth year being held in the spectator friendly Claddagh Basin. Club teams from all over the country will be coming to town, some including stars of the Irish national teams who represent on the European stage. Hopefully the weather will be good and competition tough so call by and see if for yourself. If you have any interest in kayaking, at any level, in Galway you can contact Galway Kayak Club at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit the website at galwaykayakclub.com

Whale Pontoon Demonstration - Saturday the 9th June at 1pm on Salthill Beach

Taking place on Salthill beach  on June 9th, people will have a chance to watch a demonstration by Galway Dive Club and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group as they practise how they would refloat a stranded whale. 

World Ocean Day - Sunday the 10th June in Galway Atlantaquaria

The Galway celebrations will be held on Sunday the 10th June from 11am to 5pm at Galway Atlantaquaria. A family fun day with activities for all ages is planned for between 11 – 5pm. Reduced admission prices will apply on the day.  Partner organisations including the Ryan Institute at the National University of Ireland Galway, Inland Fisheries Ireland, Marine Institute, Spideal Dive School(www.spidealdiveschool.com), Irish Wildlife Trust and the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group will combine for a fun day for people of all ages. The partner organisations will have iinteractive stands to engage young and old, while arts & crafts, face painting, story telling and science experiments will captivate the children.

This World Ocean Day celebrations are being run simultaneously with European Fish Week – OCEAN2012 and the Love Your Aquarium week organised by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Bubble Club and Try Dives

The two Dive schools in Galway are celebrating Marine Month of Madness. Galway Dive School www.divegalway.com and Spideal Dive School www.spidealdiveschool.com are both offering special rates throughout the month. So if you always wanted to try out diving, now is your chance!