About the Booking Process

School groups are invited to submit booking requests at the end of the summer each year. Please subscribe to our newsletter to make sure you receive our programme and booking information at this time.

Our Schools Box Office allocates events to school groups using booking request forms. When processing these requests, we take great care to consider groups' preferences, availability, and access needs. Please use the booking request form as an opportunity to provide as much information as possible to help us accommodate your group. Booking for a single class (approx. 30 students) means that you are more likely to be allocated to an event, as it can be difficult to accommodate bigger groups of students.

In order to submit a booking request, please follow the steps outlined below:

1. Review the festival programme

This will help you to decide which shows you would like to attend with your class or group. Please pay attention to age and class guidelines to get the most from your Baboró experience. The festival programme will be posted to your school and shared online via our newsletter in late August.

2. Prepare your essential booking information

Before you begin the booking request form, you may find it helpful to compile your school's contact information, as well as the name and mobile number of the teacher who will accompany pupils on the day of their visit.

Booking for a single class (approx. 30 children) means you are more likely to be allocated to your preferred events. We are more than happy to have larger groups, but your allocated show will depend on venue capacity.

We ask for 3 preferred shows to get a sense of your students’ interests and enthusiasms. Every effort is made to match each group with one of their preferred shows, but please know that selecting a show on the booking form is not a guarantee that places will be available.

Please check your calendar to find which dates and times your group will not be able to attend the festival, because of scheduling conflicts such as swimming lessons or other commitments.

3. Complete the online Schools Booking Request Form

You can find the booking request form here. The booking request deadline for 2026 is the 8th of September. If you need to update the details on a booking, or have any questions or concerns, please contact the Schools Box Office Team.

Please complete a booking request form stating your preferred performances and times you are available. When you submit the request form, you will receive an automated copy of your responses to the email address you provided. Please note that your booking is not yet confirmed at this stage. We will contact you with an offer via email once we have completed the allocation process.

While we cannot guarantee that you will receive your first choice event, every effort will be made to accommodate all groups' preferences, availability and needs.

4. Offer and confirmation

We will contact you in mid-September with confirmation of your booking based on your preferences, followed by an invoice. Please note that bookings are not considered complete until payment has been received.

If you need to make a change to your booking

Rescheduling may not be possible. Should an unavoidable conflict arise, we will do our best to find another suitable performance for your group. However, due to the volume of bookings we receive, our capacity to rearrange individual group’s schedules is very limited. Many shows are likely to be fully booked by the deadline and it may not be possible to reallocate your group’s booking later.

If the number of children or adults in your booking changes, please let us know as soon as possible so we can amend your booking. Please be aware that we cannot refund tickets after the payment deadline.

We strive to offer a programme that allows every child equal access to world-class arts for children, regardless of intellectual or physical ability. 

Please call us on 091 532 985, or email schools@baboro.ie, to discuss show suitability, venue accessibility, seating, lighting, and any other information that may be relevant to your students' needs. 

All of our tickets for school groups are heavily subsidised, in order to support as many students as possible attending events during the Baboró festival. Please see details of general school ticket pricing below:

Performance Ticket: €6.50

DEIS Performance Ticket: €5.50

Creative Workshops: Free

Visual Art & Exhibitions: Free

Teacher and SNA Tickets:

• Schools: 1 free teacher ticket per 10 students
• Pre-Schools: 1 free teacher ticket per 5 students
• Additional Needs Groups: SNAs and support staff for additional needs can attend for free

Baboró has been supported by local businesses and individuals to help schools with the cost of transportation. After the festival, you can submit a claim for review with details of your bus hire costs.

How to Apply for the Bus Subsidy

Please pay your own travel costs in full, then complete a Bus Subsidy Claim Form using the link below. When submitting this form, you will be asked to include a receipt, invoice or proof of payment for bus hire to the festival. We cannot process bus subsidy claims if this is not included.

The Bus Subsidy Claim Form can be completed using this link.

Terms:

• Bus subsidy claims are paid via bank transfer.
• In order to help us continue this service and due to limited funds, we kindly ask schools to avail of this offer only where needed.
• We offer a subsidy up to 50% of the cost of the bus, based on a maximum of €1.25 per child for schools in Galway City and €2 per child for schools outside Galway City, whichever is the lesser amount.
• We also offer a mileage subsidy for school groups who have their own school transport. A payment of 50¢ per mile is available for schools required to travel more than 2 miles to performances.
• Please submit a separate subsidy form for each return journey.
• Please submit a receipt/invoice or proof of payment for the bus along with the subsidy form.
• Forms submitted after the deadline are not eligible for the subsidy.

We have created a short information booklet for teachers to help you prepare for you visit to the Baboró festival. This booklet includes:

1. Safety information and emergency contact details
2. Additional reminders and information for teachers
3. Drop off points for buses and recommended parking locations
4. Additional places to visit in Galway on your day out
5. Pre-festival activities to do in class

You can download the booklet here