Event booking form

Activities during rehearsals must respect the sacred atmosphere and adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Galway Diocesan policy.

Specific areas of the Cathedral to be used for rehearsal must be agreed upon in advance.

Supervision & Stewarding

The organiser is responsible for ensuring that all individuals involved in the rehearsal maintain respectful behaviour.

Stewards may be required to facilitate access, man fire exits, and ensure that the space is left in its original condition.

Insurance & Safeguarding

The organiser must ensure that all participants during rehearsals are covered under the event's public liability insurance.

Safeguarding policies apply during rehearsals, particularly if minors are involved.

Rehearsals are limited to the approved programme for the event.

Unapproved activities, performances or alterations to the agreed content are not permitted.

Rehearsals may not include commercial or disruptive activities.

Public liability insurance

Safeguarding procedures

If minors are present:

Compliance statement

The Cathedral would welcome a donation towards the maintenance and upkeep of the Cathedral.

Advertising Restrictions

Galway Cathedral’s website, social media platforms, or mailing lists may not be used to promote third-party events.

The Galway Cathedral logo, website, and phone number may not be used on promotional material without the explicit permission of the Operations Manager.

Permissions and approval

Any recording, broadcast, or livestream must be pre-approved by the Operations Manager.

In the event that this is approved, it is the responsibility of the organiser to ensure that any necessary licencing is in place.

The Cathedral may impose conditions to ensure respect for its sacred purpose.

Privacy and consent

Organisers must secure permissions from all participants being recorded or filmed.

Compliance with data-protection law is the organiser's responsibility.

Primary Purpose of Galway Cathedral

Galway Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Cathedral and is first and foremost a place of worship. Events must respect this sacred purpose and align with the values and teachings of the Catholic Church.

Reference to the Diocesan Policy

All events must adhere to the Galway Diocesan Policy for the Use of Church Buildings and Designated Sacred Spaces for Activities Other than Worship available at www.galwaydiocese.ie. Event organisers are expected to familiarise themselves with its contents.

Event Approval

All applications are subject to review and approval by the Cathedral’s Operations Manager. Approval is granted only if the event aligns with diocesan policy and the sacred nature of the space.

Submission of an application is not a booking. Approval must be confirmed by the Operations Manager before any commitments can be made or advertising undertaken on the part of those applying.

Cancellation Policy

The Cathedral reserves the right to cancel or reschedule events at short notice due to pastoral needs, emergencies, or other unforeseen circumstances. The Cathedral and its representatives, including the Operations Manager, are not liable for financial or logistical losses arising from such cancellations.

Preservation of the Space

Use of the sanctuary for performance is strictly prohibited. Any use of the sanctuary must be identified in this application and be specifically approved by the Operations Manager. The Altar, Ambo, Chair, and other liturgical items must not be moved or used for non-liturgical purposes.

Event organisers are responsible for returning the space to its original condition.

Any physical additions (platforms, instruments, stands etc) to the space detailed in section three may not be present during the celebration of mass, and they must never be left unattended by a member of the organisers team.

The Operations Manager may be able to approve the use of an area just off the main Cathedral space as a temporary storage area, should it be required to facilitate a timely set-up between mass and the beginning of the event. This will need to be approved on a case-by-case basis to ensure it can be prepared and made available. Please make this request at the time of submission of your application.

The sacristy, office area, stores and any other areas which are not generally accessible to the public are strictly off-limits for access without specific prior approval from the Operations Manager. Unless it is previously scheduled for another use the Tea Room is usually available for use by visiting groups as a gathering and holding space.

Scheduling

The event, and all associated use of the Cathedral (set-up, rehearsal etc) can in no way interfere with the existing Cathedral parish schedule. The standing weekly schedule as of 2025 is listed below. (Please note: this document is reviewed annually. Changes to the schedule made in the interim may not be included.)

• Mass times: Monday to Saturday 11am and 6pm; Sunday 9am, 10.30am, 12.30pm and 6pm
• Adoration: Monday to Friday 11.30am - 6:00pm; Sunday 1.30pm - 6:00pm (including evening prayer at 5pm Sunday to Friday).
• Sacrament of Reconciliation: Monday to Saturday 5.30pm -6:00pm.
• Guided Holy Hour: Mondays 8:00pm - 9:00pm.
• Youth Prayer Group: Wednesdays 7:00pm - 8:00pm.

There are other events which occur less often then weekly and may impact upon availability outside of the times listed here, some of which may arise on short notice (e.g., funerals).

Insurance and Safeguarding

Valid public liability insurance is mandatory.

Events involving minors require safeguarding measures and a designated officer.

Advertising Restrictions

Galway Cathedral’s platforms (website, social media, mailing lists) cannot be used to promote third-party events.

Advertising materials must respect the Cathedral’s sacred nature.

Compliance with the Operations Manager

The Operations Manager has the final say on all logistical and administrative aspects of the event, including approvals and conditions.

Legal Jurisdiction

This agreement is governed by the laws of Ireland.

On submission, this form is received by Helena O'Shea, Operations Manager, Galway Cathedral, who may be contacted at helena-oshea@outlook.ie.

Deadline

This form must be submitted no later than six months in advance of the proposed event date, to ensure adequate review and approval. Late submissions may not be considered.

By inserting their name below, the main organiser confirms that they have the authority to act on behalf of the organising group and have secured all necessary permissions for the event, and that they agree to abide by these Terms and Conditions.