First Thought

Vinyl Hours with Anna Mullarkey

Vinyl Hours is Galway International Arts Festival's music discussion series which takes place live at the festival and here on the First Thought podcast. Join us on an aural journey of musical memories with Galwegian singer-songwriter Anna Mullarkey and host Tiernan Henry. Listen as they delve into Anna's eclectic soundtrack that features the artists that inspire her and her work.

Anna Mullarkey's Vinyl Hours playlist is available to enjoy on Galway International Arts Festival's Spotify page.

First Thought is a series of live and recorded talks and podcasts produced in association with University of Galway.

First Thought Backstage: The First Child

Welcome to First Thought Backstage with Galway International Arts Festival, a series where we sit down with theatremakers from GIAF 2022 to discuss the making of their shows.

Writer and director Enda Walsh ‘s The First Child invites you to an opera like no other – an experience that takes opera to new realms, where a cast of singers is joined by an actor, a dancer and children in a multi-media extravaganza that is at times intimate, explosive and trilling. Listen to Dr Barry Houlihan, Archivist at University of Galway catch up with cast members The First Child in this post-show talk. Hear the cast members' thoughts on the characters they play as they take you on this powerful rollercoaster ride.

First Thought Backstage is presented in association with University of Galway.

First Thought Backstage: True West

Welcome to First Thought Backstage at Galway International Arts Festival. In this series we get to sit down with theatremakers at GIAF 2022 to discuss the making of their shows. First Thought is presented in association with University of Galway.

One of the world’s most celebrated theatre ensembles, Chicago’s Steppenwolf make their much-anticipated return to Galway for the first time in 15 years with Sam Shepard's True West.

Listen to University of Galway Professor of Drama and Theatre Studies, Patrick Lonergan catch up with cast members Randall Arney and Ora Jones in this post-show talk. Hear the ensemble members' thoughts on the characters they play, the history of the ensemble and new resonances in the revived American classic.

First Thought Backstage: From A Low and Quiet Sea

Welcome to First Thought Backstage at Galway International Arts Festival. In this series we get to sit down with theatremakers at GIAF 2022 to discuss the making of their shows.

This is a post show talk of 'From a Low and Quiet Sea ' at Galway International Arts Festival 2022. University of Galway Drama and Theatre Studies Lecturer, Dr Charlotte McIvor, speaks with the cast and director of From a Low and Quiet Sea, an adaption of Donal Ryan’s Booker Prize-nominated novel. In this world premiere by Decadent Theatre and Galway Arts Centre, McIvor is joined by director Andrew Flynn and cast members Aosaf Afzal, Darragh O’Toole, Maeve Fitzgerald and Lorcan Cranitch.

Listen closely to hear a guest appearance from the acclaimed author, Donal Ryan!

First Thought Backstage is presented in collaboration with University of Galway. You can listen back to all episodes via GIAF.ie or find First Thought Backstage on any podcast platform.

The #GIAF22 Podcast: Episode - Spectacle

Welcome to the official podcast of The Galway International Festival 2022. On the show we’ll have interviews  with guests, take a look behind the scenes of this year’s festival and give all the recommendations and  information you need to enjoy the best of the arts in Galway. Hosted by Andy Gaffney and Orla Higgins. 

Episode three is all about spectacle and some other great events you can look forward to at this year’s  festival.  

Lifeline by Galway Community Circus on July 16th will be Europe’s largest high wire spectacle over the River  Corrib and Claddagh Basin. Andy popped down to the guys to chat all things funambulism. 

The Brazilian born sculptor Ana Maria Pacheco brings her new show Remember to the festival gallery from  the 11th of July. Ana Maria joined Andy and Orla to talk about how this will be her final large scale project, the  themes of power and memory and how the eyes can be the key to telling a story.  

Also in this episode 

We take a look back at some festival memories with James Harold and a chat with artistic director of The  Galway International Arts festival Paul Fahy. 

Information for all shows can be found at www.giaf.ie.  

This podcast was produced by Andy Gaffney and Orla Higgins. 

Special thanks to Flirt FM at NUI Galway. 

The #GIAF22 Podcast: Episode 2 - Theatre

Welcome to the official podcast of The Galway International Festival 2022. On the show we’ll have interviews  with guests, take a look behind the scenes of this year’s festival and give all the recommendations and  information you need to enjoy the best of the arts in Galway. Hosted by Andy Gaffney and Orla Higgins. 

Episode two is all about theatre -  

Founder of Landmark Productions Anne Clarke joins Orla to talk about their new production at this year’s  festival The First Child. The First Child is a stunning new opera from Enda Walsh and Donnacha Dennehy  which runs from the 18th to the 24th of July.  

Orla is also joined by Sonya Kelly who brings her new show The Last Return to the Druid Theatre from the 8th to the 23rd of July. Sonya chats about bringing her own unique style of writing to an audience as well as  her own beginnings in stand up comedy. 

Also in this episode -  

We take a look back at some festival memories with Judy Murphy and Andy joins some GIAF volunteers for  a bit of speed interviewing.  

Information for all shows can be found at www.giaf.ie.  

This podcast was produced by Andy Gaffney and Orla Higgins. 

Special thanks to Flirt FM at NUI Galway.

The #GIAF22 Podcast: Episode 1 - Music

Welcome to the official podcast of The Galway International Festival 2022. On the show we’ll have interviews  with guests, take a look behind the scenes of this year’s festival and give all the recommendations and  information you need to enjoy the best of the arts in Galway. Hosted by Andy Gaffney and Orla Higgins.  

Episode one is all about music -  

Galway musician and composer Anna Mullarkey joins us to talk about playing in this year’s festival,  launching her debut album Falling and taking inspiration while in the Himalayas. Anna also plays her new  single Falling Apart. 

The Grammy-nominated DJ Jon Hopkins chats to Andy about his much anticipated show at this year’s Big  Top. Jon also talks about how he first fell in love with electronic music and cave diving to make his last  album. Jon brings his mix of electronic, ambient and classical music to the Big Top on July 16th.  

Also in this episode -  

We take a look back at some festival memories with Tiernan Henry and a look behind the curtain with music  programmer Gugai McNamara.  

Information for all shows can be found at www.giaf.ie.  

This podcast was produced by Andy Gaffney and Orla Higgins. 

Special thanks to Flirt FM at NUI Galway.

Mirror Pavilion

How do you stage a large-scale artwork during a global pandemic? Galway International Arts Festival, in association with its education partner NUI Galway, lifts the lid on the making and staging of John Gerrard’s stunning large-scale artwork Mirror Pavilion, Corn Work and Leaf Work, during the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic in this new podcast documentary.

Mirror Pavilion, by Irish artist John Gerrard, is a beautiful and striking large-scale structure (7m x 7m), with three sides and the roof clad in a highly reflective mirror and the fourth wall a high–resolution LED wall, which hosts the artworks Corn Work and Leaf Work. The artwork, which is powered by sustainable energy sources, is a response to the escalating climate crisis.  

Vinyl Hours with Philip King

Vinyl Hours host Tiernan Henry is joined by award–winning and critically acclaimed musician and composer Philip King for a special live recording of Vinyl Hours, which took place during Galway International Arts Festival 2021. In the episode, Philip shares the songs that have stuck with him throughout his remarkable music and entertainment journey! (available to enjoy on Galway International Arts Festival's Spotify page).

Vinyl Hours is Galway International Arts Festival's music discussion series which takes place live at the festival and here on the First Thought podcast. 

Vinyl Hours with Niamh Regan

Vinyl Hours host Tiernan Henry is joined by Galway singer-songwriter Niamh Regan for a special live recording of Vinyl Hours, which took place during Galway International Arts Festival 2021. In the episode, Niamh shares the "soundtrack of her life" (available to enjoy on Galway International Arts Festival's Spotify page).

Vinyl Hours is Galway International Arts Festival's music discussion series which takes place live at the festival and here on the First Thought podcast.