Galway, West of Ireland has been designated a European Region of Gastronomy for 2018. The European Region of Gastronomy (ERG) Award recognises innovation and integration in gastronomy, culture, tourism and economy. The regions awarded the title demonstrate their uniqueness through offering a comprehensive and complex experience to visitors created as a result of creative coexistence and appreciation of culture, gastronomy, art or artistic expressions. 

The award is organised by a platform of European regions with the support of European institutions and is co-ordinated by IGCAT (Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts & Tourism). It provides Galway, West of Ireland with an excellent opportunity to build on the strong reputation and the excellent name it has in terms of it being a destination, by building its gastronomic profile further nationally and very importantly internationally. Moreover Galway is in a situation to meet the requirements of this designation with significant interaction between producers, hoteliers, restauranteurs, educational institutions, local festivals and events and both public agencies and private organisations thus offering both its residents and visitors a unique culinary experience. 

The European Region of Gastronomy project aims to highlight the importance of food and hospitality in European regions and strengthen the value creation potential of these important sectors. Galway, West of Ireland aims to be to the forefront of this thinking.