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What's happening at the Polish Academy in Galway?
At the Polish Academy in Galway, we believe in creating a vibrant and supportive community for our students and families.
From cultural events and festive celebrations to workshops and family-friendly activities, there’s always something exciting happening! Our events offer a great way to connect, learn, and celebrate Polish language and culture together.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on what’s coming up next
and be sure to join us!
17th of March 2025
The Polish Group at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Galway!
An estimated 50,000 people gathered along the streets of Galway on March 17th, 2025, to watch the biggest parade in the west of Ireland.
🎭 The parade featured over 70 different clubs, organisations, and community groups from Galway, bringing an incredible display of colour and sound to the city.
❤️ We’re so proud to have been part of it – representing Poland with joy and enthusiasm!
Throughout the parade, we were met with warm cheers from the crowd, such as: ✨ "Go Poland!" ✨ "Viva Polonia!" ✨and even attempts from Irish spectators to greet us in Polish: "Cześć" and "Dzień dobry". We were met with loud applause and a truly heartwarming atmosphere. Many Polish people in the crowd waved to us – and we often saw tears of emotion on their faces.
Our Polish group was also formally introduced over the microphone in front of the main viewing stand, where the Mayor of Galway and the City Councillors were seated. This was the first Polish presence at the Galway parade after a five-year break.
🎊 Taking part in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade was an incredibly meaningful and moving moment for our Academy and the wider Polish community present in Galway that day. It was a day filled with pride, unity, and a strong sense of celebrating Polish culture in Ireland.
🙏 Thank you to all the children, parents, teachers, and friends who helped form our beautiful Polish group.
- Special thanks to Come2gether Association for the many calls and conversations in the lead-up to the parade, for their enthusiasm, and for all the joint effort.
- Thank you to Inisowiacy, who travelled from Ennis—and even Bray!—to proudly share the beauty of our traditional costumes, music, and dances with the people of Galway.
- A big thank you to Mr. Paweł Editner, owner of Diamond Lenses Photography, for his stunning professional photos of our group—taken entirely on a volunteer basis.
- Thank you to Ms. Katarzyna Pomianek, who kindly baked and delivered delicious Polish-Irish themed muffins. She and her daughter also joined us in the parade.
- Thank you to the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Dublin for their financial support, which made it possible for us to represent Poland on this special day.
- Once again – to everyone who helped, supported, cheered, and made this event so wonderful – thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with us!
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with us!
Join the Polish group in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Galway and experience an unforgettable adventure with your child!
🇵🇱 What do we offer?
✅ A chance to take part in the official parade and represent the local Polish community – feel proud to stand with the White and Red and be part of this amazing celebration.
✅ A performance by the Inisowiacy folk dance group.
✅ Face paints and red-and-white accents to help us stand out in the crowd.
✅ A warm, family-friendly atmosphere – children, parents, grandparents – everyone is welcome!
📅 When? March 17, 2025, from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM
📍 Where? University of Galway – the meeting point and parade route will be sent to registered participants.
👣 How to join?
Just sign up! Fill out the registration form and join us on parade day. It’s easy – come to the meeting point and enjoy the walk together!
💡 Come with a red-and-white accent – a Polish flag, traditional outfit, or simply a great mood!
📢 Everyone’s welcome – let’s show how strong the Polish community in Galway is!
Organizers:
🎓 Polish Academy in Galway
🤝 Come2gether Association
💃 Inisowiacy Folk Dance Group
🇵🇱 With the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Dublin
📣 Let’s be together on this special day!
21st of December 2024
Santa’s first visit to the Polish Academy in Galway
Happy Holidays! We wish everyone health, joy, and many magical moments spent with your loved ones. May this special time bring you warmth, smiles, and the fulfillment of your dreams. Thank you for being with us and for helping us create a beautiful Polish community together! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2025!
And in the photos... Santa Claus’s very first visit to our Academy!
Thank you all for these unforgettable moments — we’re already looking forward to our next holiday celebration.
20 December 2024. Supporting our Teachers:
a heartfelt Thank You!
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Institute for the Development of the Polish Language for the bonuses for our Polish teachers and to Freedom and Democracy Foundation for facilitating the agreement and transferring the funds. The bonuses are intended exclusively for Teachers to support educational and professional development purposes, such as purchasing essential materials for teaching or enhancing their professional qualifications. We are thrilled that, thanks to this support, our Teachers will be able to acquire the teaching aids they need for their classes or further develop their professional skills. Thank you!
14 December 2024: a magical Saturday at our Academy!
December 14th began like any other Saturday, with classes starting at 9:00. But behind the scenes, the preparations were already in full swing. At 11:00, we gathered together to watch the enchanting performance “The First Great Montessori Lesson – The Creation of the Universe,” brought to life by Ms. Paula. This captivating story about the origins of the universe fascinated everyone — children and adults alike.
Following the performance, the Hula-Hop group delighted us with a cheerful recitation of the poem “Dziwna zwrotka” by L.K. Kern. Then, we moved to the hallway, where a gallery of student artwork awaited us. Parents had the opportunity to admire the children's creations and talents. The corridor was filled with the delicious aroma of snacks prepared by our dedicated staff and the Hula-Hop group—thank you for these tasty treats!
The highlight of the day was the collaborative workshop for parents and children, where we created cosmic galaxies sealed in bottles.
A huge thank you to all the parents for spending this special time with us and for your constant support—you are amazing! We also extend our gratitude to all our teachers and staff for their hard work in making this day extraordinary for our community. We can't wait for more moments like this in the future!
26 November 2024: Funding for Polish Language Education Abroad
The Polish Academy in Galway has received funding of 17,520.00 PLN as part of the open competition titled "Support for teaching the Polish language abroad through the funding of textbooks, office equipment, computer equipment, and software." This initiative, carried out in cooperation with the Freedom and Democracy Foundation under the program "Equipment Upgrade - Ireland," was made possible thanks to the Polish Language Development Institute named after St. Maximilian Kolbe and funded by the Ministry of National Education.
