Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán Féin -

Cultural Walking Tour led by Róisín Mc Loughlin

Location meeting point: Tigh Neachtains


12:00 noon, Sunday, 27th September 2026 


FREE admission - pre-booking is strongly advised as spaces are limited.

Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin: Hearth to Hearth through Galway City is a guided cultural walk exploring the hearth as an architectural and social space at the heart of Galway’s civic and cultural life.

Moving through a series of historic locations in Galway City, the walk considers the fireplace not simply as an architectural feature, but as a gathering place - a space around which stories are shared, ideas debated, relationships formed and communities sustained.

The route connects Tigh Neachtain, Galway Arts Centre, Nora Barnacle’s House Museum and The Kings Head, drawing out stories associated with politics, literature, creativity, domestic life and belonging.

Responding to Architecture at the Edge’s 2026 theme Le Chéile, the walk invites participants to consider the spaces that bring us together and to reflect on their own understanding of home, community and the enduring idea of the hearth.

Róisín Mc Loughlin, is a Tipperary-born and Galway-based educator, cultural practitioner and community engagement professional with a particular interest in language,place, belonging and the ways people experience shared spaces. Her work brings together education, community engagement, storytelling and cultural participation with a strong focus on creating accessible and meaningful experiences that connect people and place.

AATE Flag Display x and a multi-speaker talk on Coastal Decision-Making

— The built, natural and cultural significance of the Irish Coastline

Grattan Beach, Grattan Road, Salthill

Saturday 26th September

12 noon (duration 1.5hrs)

All are welcome, no booking required.

This is an outdoor event, appropriate shoes and clothing recommended

Flag installation on the beach, with a multi-speaker talk and presentation on the built and natural coastline, coastal decision-making and town planning, climate change, endangered species, and the biodiversity on the edge of our city. A variety of species and habitats will be explored.

Project Credits;

Amelia Walker, Flag Team AATE / Galway Atlantaquaria / C-MAP Coastal Monitoring and Adaptation Planning / School of Geography, University of Galway

Speakers Include:

• Amelia Walker — Flag Team AATE, Graphic Designer / Sandlarks

• Axel Leahy — C-MAP Coastal Monitoring and Adaptation Planning, Post Doctoral Researcher, University of Galway

• Garry Kendellen — Galway Atlantaquaria

• Kevin Lynch — Beach & Dune Network, School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish

Studies, Ryan Institute, University of Galway

• Léa Delhaise — Marine Biologist, Sea Science, Galway City Museum

• Amber Parker — Wool Rolls Research Project, University of Galway

• Ultan McManus — Sandlarks

Amelia Walker — Flag Team AATE, Graphic Designer / Sandlarks

Amelia’s AATE design utilises visual art as a conduit for spreading environmental awareness and sustainability; emphasising the importance of endangered species living in close proximity to our human-build world. Finding a White Skate (Rostroraja alba) mermaid’s purse in Furbo has shown that Galway Bay is currently a rare breeding site and nursery for the critically endangered species.

Axel Leahy — C-MAP Coastal Monitoring and Adaptation Planning, Post Doctoral Researcher, University of Galway

Axel’s research assesses opportunities and barriers for the participation of coastal communities within climate change adaptation (CCA) decision-making processes. His work investigates individual’s perceptions of coastal risks and climate change, and engagement at a local level. 

Garry Kendellen — Galway Atlantaquaria

Garry is head of marketing, content and public participation at Galway Atlantaquaria. He holds regular Explore Your Shore and other public events on Grttan Beach. His focus is on supporting and educating a connected community.

Ultan McManus — Sandlarks

Ultan is co-founder of Sandlarks, a Clean Coasts volunteer group based in Galway. Their focus is on community beach cleans, ci>zen science, and coastal conservation along the Wild Atlantic Way. 

Léa Delhaise — Marine Biologist, Sea Science, Galway City Museum.

Léa holds regular educational events on the beach. She curated An Tír Faoi Thoinn – The Land Beneath the Waves, supported by the Marine Institute — “It’s exciting to bring people into conversa>on with the ocean on their doorstep. These events give visitors a chance to discover the incredible species, stories and science hidden beneath Galway Bay, and to understand how closely connected we all are to marine life.”

Amber Parker — Wool Rolls Research Project, Coastal & Marine Processes & Policy, University of Galway.

Amber has been working on The Wool Rolls Research Project; a nature-based research initiative in Galway, that uses wool rolls to support sand dune restoration and coastal conservation. The focus of the project was to test natural, biodegradable materials alongside chestnut fencing to stabilise sand dunes and encourage native vegetation growth.

On Site - Údarás na Gaeltachta with AXO Architects

Adaptation and re-use of two 1970s factories at Inverin.  

Architect led Tour

Salerno Business Park, Inverin, County Galway - H91 XHE3

12:00-13:00 hr, Friday, 25th September 2026

FREE entry – but prebooking is advised as spaces are limited.

Architect led Tour with Michael Horan and Seamus Lunn, Axo Architects.

The temptation is to build new….build in the city….add to the congestion.  

An alternative, is to provide employment in your own locality to strengthen your community where families can grow, become neighbours, become friends, attend the local school, play sport for the local teams, support the local shop, cycle to work, socialise, and foster a sense of ’Belonging’.  

InverMed and Advant Medical could have moved to the city, but they chose to stay in their own locality and provide employment, thus allowing both management and staff to continue to ‘belong’ to the area and therefore support the growth and vibrancy of their local community, thus fostering ‘Pride of Place’ and the Architecture of Belonging.

Údarás na Gaeltachta is the regional authority responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht. It is a key player in fostering and driving the essence of ‘Belonging’.

Project Credits;

Architects, Assigned Certifier & PSDP – Axo Architects.

Quantity Surveyors – Peter F Costello & Partners.

Mechanical & Electrical Engineers – IN2 Engineering Design Partnership.

Civil and Structural Engineers – CHH Consulting Engineers.

Main Contractors:

InverMed - FVG Construction And Maintenance Ltd, Ballybane, Galway, H91 XY58.

Advant - Jackie Folan Ltd., Carna, County Galway, H91 D456.

Site info: 

Parking is available to the rear of the site.

The two pharmaceutical units are live operations so internal photographs are not permitted.

Event organised by: Údarás na Gaeltachta.