People visit Galway throughout the year simply for the relaxed atmosphere and to have a laugh and sample the ambiance of music meeting and greeting. Galway is lucky in that it attracts people who enjoy fun and a good time but not trouble or strife. Maybe by it's attitude it makes it's own luck. People come in largest numbers during Holiday Weekends: St Patrick's Day (17th March), Easter, the 1st weekends in May, June and August (busiest of all), thr last weekend in October and the New Year.

The major Summer Events are Arts Week (2nd week in July) which also starts off with the annual Galway Film Festival.

The biggest week of all is Galway Racing Festival (Horse Racing and Annual Drinking Binge) which runs from Monday to the Sunday of August Weekend (ie last week of July into first week of August). Important to note that though the city is full to the brim on this week, there is never any trouble. Not a good week to transact any serious business! All of Ireland seems to be on holidays, and most of Ireland seems to head for Galway.

The other major happening is the Galway Oyster Festival which takes place the last week of September.

There are other lesser festivals such as "Cuirt", a writers week held annually in April.

Don't feel you have to come during festivals however. There is always something happening in Galway, and there's always the craic to be had!