13 Best Performing Arts in County Clare, Galway, and the Aran Islands, Ireland

Ireland's theatrical hub outside the capital, the Druid has pioneered Galway's identity as a center for the arts. Playwright Martin McDonagh debuted here along with many other playwrights. The Druid showcases 20th-century Irish and European plays and is considered a pioneer in the development of Irish theater. Its players have toured extensively and performed at Lincoln Center in New York, and several London venues. The Druid regularly presents a production at Galway Arts Festival in late July.

Ennis comes alive with the beat of the bodhrán for eight days at the end of May in one of Ireland's greatest traditional music festivals. It offers workshops, concerts, trad sessions, parades, and street performances, as well as the opportunity to mix with locals.

Book ahead to avoid staying in the periphery.

An internationally renowned, roving Galway-based troupe of performance artists, Macnas has raised street theater in Ireland to new levels. While their participation in the July Arts Festival's parade is always much anticipated, it's their broody, giant-scale procession at the Galway Aboo Halloween parade that's the annual highlight.

The sleepy town of Miltown Malbay has woken up every July since 1973 to the sound of harps, tin whistles, and uilleann pipes. The weeklong Willie Clancy Summer School, named after the legendary piper, is the largest of its kind in Ireland, with 135 daily workshops and a full program of recitals, concerts, and dances open to the public. 

Founders of the Gate Theatre in Dublin, partners Hilton Edwards and Micheál Mac Liammóir created the national Irish-language theater, An Taibhdhearc (pronounced "ontie-vark"), to produce first-class Irish works in both English and Irish languages. Watch out for pop-up performances.

Filled with music and storytelling, Bunratty Castle's medieval banquets have been entertaining guests since 1963. Guests are heralded over a drawbridge by a kilt-wearing bagpiper before being ushered by courtiers and ladies-in-waiting to a banquet featuring spare ribs and mead, a locally produced honey wine. The congregation sits on benches while two unsuspecting guests are crowned Earl and Lady Thomond and allotted the responsibility of tossing someone into the great hall's dungeon. Banquets are held subject to demand at 5:30 and 8:45 nightly.

Kinvara's Cruinniú na mBád, meaning "the gathering of the boats," in late August commemorates a time when the Galway hookers—red-sailed, black-hulled timber boats—hauled turf to trade in Galway. It's a great opportunity to see restored craft in all their glory and remember a time gone by.

During the first weekend in May, the scenic harbor village of Kinvara hosts the hugely popular three-day traditional music festival, Fleadh na gCuach (the Cuckoo Fleadh), attracting musicians from far and wide.

Held the middle two weeks of July, the Galway Arts Festival hosts an international array of the best of contemporary theater, film, rock, jazz, traditional music, poetry readings, comedy acts, and visual arts exhibitions.

Ennis's venue for large concerts, Glór hosts popular touring acts, art-house cinema, stand-up comedy, and competitions of Irish music, song, and dance—including May's hectic Fleadh Nua. There's also an art gallery, a café, and free parking.

Held in September in the spa town of Lisdoonvarna in the Burren, Europe's largest matchmaking fest is a monthlong festival of music, dancing, craic, and—if you're lucky—love. 

The art gallery at University College has a number of intriguing exhibitions each year on painting, sculpture, and photography.

Known as the place where shady deals took place between politicians and developers during the boom times, the Galway Races is a high-profile event that brings the city to a standstill and brings out all of Ireland's aspiring socialites, horse-racing enthusiasts, and ostentatious hats. Room rates skyrocket around this festival so plan accordingly.