Welcome to Galway Atlantaquaria

Engage, Educate And Inspire

Ireland’s largest native species aquarium.

Watch the Aquarium Video Experience

Every visit is a fun and educational journey through the vibrant life of Ireland’s rivers, lakes, and ocean.

Mum and Son looking at fish,

OUR zoo & AQUARIUM

Visit Our Aquarium

Discover Ireland’s largest native species aquarium, an exciting and educational experience for all ages.
Plan your family day out and explore everything our Aquarium has to offer.

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Ticket Prices
Animals & Exhibits
Events

EXPLORE

OUR MOST POPULAR
ANIMALS AND EXHIBITS

See sharks from our seas, freshwater fish from our rivers, and colourful species from warmer waters.
There’s so much to discover on your visit.

ocean zone
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Ocean Zone

Get close to the aquarium’s largest predators in the Ocean Zone – home to Bream, Wreckfish, Bass, and Smoothhound sharks found in Irish waters.
Wreckfish live in caves and shipwrecks and can grow over 70 years old and weigh nearly 100 kg. While Wreckfish and Sharks prefer deeper, colder waters, Bream thrive in warm, shallow areas.

Did you know?

Rising ocean temperatures mean species like Bream are now more common in Irish waters.

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LEARN MORE about our species
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Octopus

The Octopus is an incredible animal, considered to be the most intelligent of all invertebrates – animals with no backbone – capable of exploring, understanding and remembering its environment. A master at camouflage, the octopus can hide in very small spaces which means that sometimes it can be difficult to spot! The Octopus is part of the Cephalopod family, which includes Squid and Cuttlefish.

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Waterfall

Our freshwater exhibit is home to Perch and Rudd. Perch live in slow-flowing rivers and deep lakes and use the stripes on their bodies to camouflage themselves in the weeds. They ambush unsuspecting prey by unleashing a burst of speed. As a smaller species, Rudd prefers safety in numbers and is often part of a large shoal. A Rudd’s mouth points upwards which is how they like to feed, often taking its food from the surface of the water.

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clownfish
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Clown Fish

Clownfish get their name from their bright orange colouring and white stripes. These colourful fish come from warmer, tropical ocean regions. They live near coral reefs which provide them with food, such as shrimp, shellfish and seaweed, and protection. To make them feel at home, we heat their seawater all year round. Clownfish can change from male to female. If the chief female in a family unit dies, the chief male will turn into a female to take her place!

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Tropical Zone

Our Tropical Zone has Stingrays, Cichlids and Red-Bellied Piranhas. Piranhas are native to the Amazon Basin in South America. They prey on aquatic and land animals and have razor-sharp teeth that cut into their prey with ease. Piranhas have a ravenous appetite when hungry, so we make sure to feed ours every day to keep them calm and relaxed.

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Ray Pool

The Ray Pool is home to our Rays, small species of shark including Dogfish and large flatfish such as Turbot. The most common Ray in Galway Bay is the Thornback. The Ray’s skeleton is made of cartilage, not bone, and they lay eggs known as Mermaid’s Purses. Rays spend much of their time buried in the sand to hide from predators and to hunt for their prey. To allow them to breathe under the sand, they have a small hole – called a spiracle – behind each eye that helps give them oxygen.

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EMBARK ON A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY AND
LEARNING WITH THE ATLANTAQUARIA TEAM.

DISCOVERY & LEARNING

WE WANT TO ENGAGE,
EDUCATE & INSPIRE.

We share our passion for marine and freshwater life through hands-on learning.

Our Discovery and Learning Programme includes both online and in-person opportunities, from school tours and virtual classes to community events and team-building days.
There’s something for visitors of all ages and abilities.

contact our education team
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Aquarium staff talking to people,
feeding experiences at the Aquarium,
Marine and Freshwater experiences,
Friendly Staff talking to child,

VIRTUAL TOUR

VIEW OUR VIRTUAL TOUR TO
ENJOY THE AQUARIUM AT HOME

Sit back and enjoy the virtual guided tours and ‘Think Tank’ Quiz.

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Fish

Testimonials

What people are
saying about Our aquarium

Sehr interessantes Aquarium. Tolle Becken. Viel Wissenswertes gelernt. 

Thomas Kurowski, Oct 2025

Friendly, helpful staff with a very child-friendly layout. Fascinating selection of ocean life.
I would highly recommend a visit!!

Mike, Sept 2025

DAILY EVENTS

What’s on today

Please ask at reception for a more detailed explanation of what’s on today.

PLAN YOUR VISIT
An Aquarium team member smiles at a small child looking at some biofacts on a table.

Talks and Experiences

Our Experience Team hosts regular talks and activities every weekend, bank holiday, and school holiday.
Topics focus on native species, conservation, and animal adaptations.
You can also join self-guided challenges such as our Scavenger Hunt or Fishy Fun Quiz, available at reception.
Talk schedules are updated daily. For special events see here.

TOURS & VIP EXPERIENCES brochure
A family with an Aquarium member of staff feeding the fish.

FEEDING Experiences

Watch our Feeding Experiences, including the Freshwater Exhibit, Ray Pool, and Big and Small Fish Feeding Tours.
These tours run regularly and are advertised at reception.
Our Animal Care Team is always happy to answer questions.

NEWS

Whats new at Galway Atlantaquaria

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