14 October 2026 | Radisson RED Galway

Brought to you by Law Society Solicitor Services, Festival West brings solicitors together for an afternoon of connection, shared experiences and a chance to enjoy something away from the day-to-day.

Festival programme

Join us for live theatre, Festival Pop-Ups, good food, entertainment and plenty of time to catch up and connect along the way.

1:00pm | Arrive & Settle In

Join us from 1pm, check in and get ready for the afternoon ahead.

1:30pm | Gather Around the Table

We’ll begin with a two-course buffet lunch – time to catch up, meet others and settle into the Festival.

2:30pm | Welcome to Festival West

We’ll officially open Festival West and introduce Solicitor Services, alongside the launch of the latest Practice Essentials resource focused on Regulation.

2:50pm | From Resilience to Adaptability – Live

Our Festival theme comes to life through a bespoke immersive theatre experience exploring the realities of legal practice today and the challenges and opportunities of adapting in an evolving profession.

Through live scenes, conversation and collective reflection, we’ll explore everything from evolving client expectations and new technology to workload, professional value and wellbeing.

Created with Thompson Harrison and written and directed by Olivier and Offie Award-winning theatre director Donnacadh O’Briain.

3:50pm | A Special Guest – Tommy Tiernan

Comedian, actor, podcaster and chat show host Tommy Tiernan joins Festival West for a special comedy performance, bringing his unmistakable humour and unique perspective to the Festival stage.

4:10pm | Take a Break & Explore

Grab a tea or coffee, continue the conversation and discover more of what’s happening across Solicitor Services, the Library and Education.

4:25pm | Festival Pop-Ups

Three pop-ups. Take your pick.

Choose from three small-group experiences designed to be interactive, practical and fun.

1 | Your Roadmap to Success: Regulatory Support Services
Put your regulatory know-how to the test. Work through practical challenges and explore the supports available to help you navigate practice with confidence.

2 | The Future of Legal Services: Access, Opportunity and New Pathways
What will legal practice across Ireland look like in the years ahead? Explore the challenges facing access to legal services, particularly in smaller and rural communities, and discover how new pathways into the profession and the Small Practice Traineeship Grant could help shape a more sustainable future for legal practice across the country.

3 | What’s in the Cards? A Fresh Approach to Career, Practice & Wellbeing
Pick a card and see where the conversation takes you. Expect curveballs, different perspectives and plenty to talk about across career, practice, leadership and wellbeing.

From 5:00pm | Stay & Connect

Stay with us for music, canapés and time to catch up, connect and enjoy the rest of the evening.

Festival West is delivered in collaboration with the Galway Bar Association.

Festival West is eligible for 1.5 hours of Professional Development and Solicitor Wellbeing CPD.