I've never done anything touristy in Galway, except my dad and I drove to Spiddal and came back via the northern part of the peninsula. Mostly we have done family things when we've gone there. I did go with my mom on a whirlwind day-long tour of Dublin... we walked around for about 6 hours lol.

I wanted to research things to do near my grandma's house - she passed away a number of years ago but my uncle owns it so we have stayed there on holiday - but it is kind of in the middle of nowhere. There are a few things somewhat close by, eg. the Turoe Stone, and I was intrigued by the idea of prehistoric stone things that you can go see. I have a GPS, so I bought an Ireland map for it and started putting in locations of castles and other things to go see... I don't know when I'll go back again but I do love being there. I want to plan around a festival like the one you mentioned, if I go with my boyfriend we will have to see a few non-family things otherwise he will be bored to death lol.

Are you trying to learn Irish? I chip away at it off and on... it's not easy but I keep learning a few new things every so often.