A festival offering high art, and popular art and which enriched people's year was how comedian, writer and actor Pauline McLynn summed up the Galway Arts Festival, which she officially launched yesterday evening in blazing Salthill sunshine.
The 29th festival, which has been programmed by the organisation's new artistic director Paul Fahy, features 450 local, national and international performers.
The organisers are hoping to attract 150,000 people to the event over the next fortnight, resulting in spending in the city of over €20 million.
Ms McLynn, in her speech, referred to the city's newest festival, Project 06, which was launched at the weekend in a bid to highlight what it has described as the Galway Arts Festival's lack of engagement with local artists and audiences. While Mr Fahy and the arts festival would be here next year, she felt that the new festival would not survive.
But she acknowledged that if offered audiences an alternative.
"I think the brilliant thing about Project 06 is that there is something for everybody. They [ the festivals] complement each other. But with the arts festival you know exactly what you are going to get."
Festival founder and chief organiser of Project 06 Ollie Jennings was among those listening to her comments.
Mr Fahy welcomed the artists from all over the world and thanked all who helped the festival to stage the €2 million event which includes five world and four Irish premieres.
The current heatwave has not had an adverse impact on ticket sales, according to Mr Fahy, who said: "We are where we thought we would be at this point."
Controversial British playwright Mark Ravenhill was among those present at the opening. His drama, Product will be staged at Druid Theatre this week.
Artistic director of Chicago's Hubbard Street Dance Jim Vincent and his team of over 21 dancers, three choreographers and crew also attended the launch before making their Irish debut at The Black Box later last night.
Among the many councillors present was Mayor of Galway Niall Ó Brolcháin who described the arts festival as his favourite festival and the event that made Galway truly special.
Full details of this year's Galway Arts Festival are available at galwayartsfestival.ie.