Galway County Council has approved just over €424,000 in grants for community groups.
The funding comes under its Community Support Schemes, and is aimed at supporting tourism, community and cultural development across the county.
€18,000 is going toward six large-scale festivals, with a further 82 smaller festivals and events also receiving allocations.
Local projects, such as playground repairs, lighting upgrades and litter blackspot campagins are also receiving funding.
Meanwhile, funding has been approved for sports programmes and equipment, along with arts and music projects
There are also allocations under the Irish Support Scheme and the Heritage Support Scheme.
A summary of the funding highlights are below, but full details can be found here: CSS 2026
Festivals
Large‑scale festivals in receipt of funding include the Clifden Traditional Music Festival, Galway Garden Festival, Headfest and the South Galway Bay Music Festival (€3,500 each), along with the Galway Comedy Festival and the Wild West Music Festival (€2,000 each).
A further 82 smaller festivals and events across the county are receiving allocations ranging from €400 to €2,300.
Community Development Support Scheme
56 local projects are being funded under the Community Development Support Scheme, including essential playground repairs at Páirc Spraoi Iorras Aithneach (€2,300), the provision of pollinator‑friendly planters in Ardrahan (€2,200), beach access repairs at Leitir Mealláin and Baile na Cille, and a lighting upgrade on the Annaghdown GAA Community Walkway (€1,000).
Environment Support Scheme
12 projects are to receive funding under the Environment Support Scheme, including the resurfacing of pathways in Woodford Burial Ground (€7,945) and Killalaghton Burial Ground (€7,548), measures to address gum‑litter blackspots in Tuam through specialist equipment and awareness campaigns (€3,680), and the replacement of rotted wooden seating with long‑life recycled benches in Abbeyknockmoy Burial Ground (€1,459).
Sports Support Scheme
Among the 66 projects to receive funding under the Sports Support Scheme are Ballymoe FC’s Women’s Football Programme, Tuam RFC’s Give it a Try Girls Programme, Kinvara Hockey Club’s Leadership Development Programme and Older Adults Chair Yoga at Moycullen Active Retirement Association (€1,000 each), along with new hurling equipment for Mullagh GAA Club (€950) and sports equipment for Comhlacht Forbartha Inis Meáin (€738).
The Arts Support Scheme
The Arts Support Scheme features funding for 54 projects including Galway Dance and Songs of Hope and Lament by the Tuam‑based Resurgam Choir (€2,300 each), Athenry Music School’s Intercultural Harp Project for Young Musicians (€2,100), a creative writing project for children aged 8 to 10 by Portumna Arts Group / Shorelines Arts Festival (€1,900), an Artist‑in‑Residence Programme by the Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society (€1,300) and Headford Youth Theatre’s production of Shrek the Musical (€1,000).
Irish Support Scheme
14 community groups and voluntary organisations are benefiting under the Irish Support Scheme, including Club Pop‑up Gaeltacht Chinn Mhara, Pastime Chonamara, Clifden Comhaltas, Kilcroan NS, Gaeilgeoirí Áth Cinn and Scoil na bhForbacha.
Heritage Support Scheme
Meanwhile, 62 projects are in receipt of funding totalling €60,000 under the Heritage Support Scheme, including Williamstown Tidy Towns’ Heritage Digital Mapping project, Belmont NS’s digitisation of school records, Féile na mBáid by Coiste Pobail Ros Muc (€1,308 each), the Lackagh Museum oral heritage project (€1,175) and the development of a wildlife trail by St Brendan’s NS in Eyrecourt (€1,170).
