Work by Patricia Piccinni and a bilingual drama are among the highlights at the Galway Arts Festival.
Some 180,000 people from home and abroad are expected in Galway for the arts festival.
'Relativity', an exhibition at the former Connacht Tribune printworks, will show work by the Australian artist Patricia Piccinini. Her work explores themes such as genetic engineering, science and contemporary reality. Hector and Roxy, the artist's children, have nothing but praise for their mother's work.
What inspires me is our relationship between the natural and the artificial and how that is changing over time.
An Taibhdhearc theatre is staging a bilingual production 'Maum', by Sighle Ní Chonaill and translated by Macdara O Fátharta, based on the true stories of the massacres in Maum Trasna Valley in 1882. Artistic Director at An Taibhdhearc, Anne McCabe, describes the story of Irish speaking people accused of a crime they did not commit and their battle with the might of the British crown.
The play is based on a miscarriage of justice where crucial evidence in Irish is disallowed.
Director of the play Diarmuid de Faoite says that the conflict between the English and Irish speaking worlds adds another layer to the story.
Paul Fahy, Artistic Director at the Galway International Arts Festival, says the event offers a great selection of home produced work alongside the very best of international arts.
The Sky Whale, a 70 foot high hot air balloon will be tethered at various locations around Galway during the festival.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 13 July 2015. The reporter is Teresa Mannion.
