AUGUST EVENTS
Seagrass Safari
The Seagrass Safari
This is a wonderful opportunity for adults, children and families to learn all about the hidden biodiversity on Grattan Beach, Salthill.
On the day of the event we will meet by the lifeguard hut and then walk about 300 meters to reach the best rock-pool areas.
This means that packed lunch, hand sanitiser, wellies and weather gear should be brought along on the day.
Heritage at Risk – Beaches and Dunes Biodiversity Walk
Heritage at Risk encourages us to explore the built, natural and cultural aspects of our heritage that are endangered, for us to reimagine and revive these sites, artefacts and practices.
Galway City Museum, University of Galway, and Galway Atlantaquaria are proud to present the Dunes, ‘They Protect Us, Let’s Protect Them’, & Explore Your Shore! Campaign Workshops on Grattan Beach, Salthill.
This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about Heritage Week, The Risk or Threats our cultural heritage faces, and how we can all become protectors and guardians of Grattan Beach that is over (160) one hundred and sixty years old.
Let’s revive our love of Biodiversity and Heritage.
Admission is free, but places are limited and advance booking is recommended.
To reserve a place, please contact Galway City Museum by email at Museum@GalwayCity.ie or by telephone at (091) 532460.
SEPTEMBER 2026 Events
Galway Atlantaquaria EU Big Beach Clean 2026, with Clean Coasts
WORLD CLEAN UP DAY
#EUBeachCleanup 2026
Join the global wave for a cleaner, plastic-free ocean!
The #EUBeachCleanup is a global movement tackling marine pollution, because every piece of plastic removed is a victory for our ocean. By 2040, up to 37 million tonnes of plastic waste could enter the ocean annually if we don’t act now.
Organised by the European Union in partnership with the United Nations and the Smurfs, this campaign brings together institutions, NGOs, and everyday heroes (that’s you!) to clean up beaches, rivers, and lakes.
Together, we are
- protecting marine life (SDG 14: Life Below Water)
- fighting pollution (SDG 12: Responsible Consumption)
- building healthier communities (SDG 3: Good Health & Well-being)
- uniting people worldwide for real change
Galway Atlantaquaria invites the public to attend our nature walk on Grattan Beach, Salthill to launch our TIDES initiative for measuring impacts of beach cleans on Grattan.
Marine Litter in Ireland and its weight is unrecorded so we pledge to weigh any litter collected every time we complete a Clean Coasts Beach Clean
Learn more about TIDES
https://www.coastalcleanupdata.org
TIDES is a public data system containing the world’s largest ocean trash dataset, all collected by volunteers. These citizen science data are collected during the annual International Coastal Cleanup and by users of Clean Swell, Ocean Conservancy’s ocean trash data collection app. When exploring this system, you can view ocean trash data at a global scale or even zoom into your local beach. Looking to do your own analysis? Easily download reports for any country, state, region or location. Don’t forget to join the TIDES community and contribute your ocean trash data by downloading Clean Swell!
The Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival
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Health & Safety
Participants must arrive early to listen to the Health & Safety Briefing.
An Adult or Guardian must supervise children. Please be weather-ready, wear Strong Shoes, bring your own Gloves for litter picking.
Hazards in the environment, Tripping Hazards. Rocks may shift underfoot and may be covered in Algae, too. Extra care is needed while walking. See our Risk Assessment
The Aquarium can cancel this event at any time, should weather or other personal events arise. We will advertise changes on our socials, so please like and follow for updates.