Volvo RTW Race Stopover Galway

[retep]

I spent the weekend in Galway attracted because of the round the world yacht race stopover and I have to say, in all sincerity that it was the most impressive spectacle I've ever had the privelige to witness in Ireland.

Galway, already a rather attractive place, if not without notions and some airs about itself at times, has been truly and wonderfully transformed, and nowhere moreso than down at the docks where the race village has been set up.

Perhaps the brilliant weather added an extra exotic or attractive dimension to the whole package but, not withstanding, it was a wonderful totally accessable to all spectacle (That being, FREE to those that didn't want to or couldnt afford to spend any money) which, I think couldn't fail to impress all but the most hardened cynics. I definately largely forgot the recession and the election while I was there which in itself was no bad thing.

So to all involved in Galway I say, damn well done and even thought ye still have 5 days to go yet, ye can already take a well deserved bow and accolades for pulling off something which had the potential to fall flat on its face, unfortunately like so many Irish much hyped events do, But instead this rose above the already heightened expectations to leave one amazed at what they were witnessing.

And for anyone that hasn't been yet, if ya wanna see what the future of a revitalised Ireland has the potential to be, get down to the village one of the evenings when all the boats have come in and are lined up 3 and 4 abreast in a place which previously hosted only fuel tankers and coal ships and scrap metal ships, fishing trawlers and the odd Irish naval patrol vessel and research ship.

The only downsides I would see to this was:

A. It so much exceeded even the organisers expectations that it almost has stretched Galway beyond breaking point especially on accomodation and in places with price gouging?
B. How do you top something like this?
C. Why does an event like this also unfortunately expose or make more obvious the less appealing side of the Irish, such as our propensity even, or especially, amongst the young to loudly indulge in profanities in public or of youths to roam loudly in intimidating packs or the inclination to mass excessive drinking and the associated compulsion to leave all your empty bottles and cans and associated detruis strewn about in the most pitcuresque places?

[HanleyS]

A. It so much exceeded even the organisers expectations that it almost has stretched Galway beyond breaking point especially on accomodation and in places with price gouging?

I was wondering if the businesses of Galway would be foolish enough to do this. They may see it as making hay while the sun shines. They should learn from the example of the people of Crosshaven/Carrigaline who thoroughly shot themselves in the foot and destroyed the Cork Week event through price gouging. Eventually only Irish competitors could afford to go.

[HST]

[QUOTE=retep;1722186] I definately largely forgot the recession and the election while I was there which in itself was no bad thing.

Great day, but when Declan Ganley on video was paraded up and down the prom on the back of an Izuzu jeep and interviewed on open-air television screens down at the village it was difficult to forget the elections.

Iarnrod Eireann didn't help much either. The 11.30am Sunday train was cancelled because no driver was available: a bus was used instead.

[Gimpanzee]

I spent the weekend in Galway attracted because of the round the world yacht race stopover and I have to say, in all sincerity that it was the most impressive spectacle I've ever had the privelige to witness in Ireland.

Galway, already a rather attractive place, if not without notions and some airs about itself at times,

We've notions about ourselves alright, but given our ability to put on the most impressive spectacle you've ever had the privilege to witness in Ireland, its warranted. Imagine if we'ed been given the City of Culture in 2005 that Cork made a complete arse of?

That said, I was just passing by the docks this morning and said to the wife that Galway seems to need bad times to find its edge. The Arts Festival was at its finest when things were tough and money was in the eighties - since then it has just climbed up its arse and lived off its rep - the parades being a case in point. Then you had the Air show - spectacular, but pretty soul-less all the same.

For the past 10-15 years the Galway Races was like a distilled version of the country's new found affluence - millions being thrown around on a rumours of a sure thing, the FF tent, the helicopters, sh!te food, fancy clothes on fat bellies and booze, and the relentless quantifying of the success of the festival based on ever inflating amounts of money spent on the tote. This year should be a bit more sobering.

In fairness, many of the people who pulled the Volvo operation together are the same as the folks who've been around for the past 20 years, and the have really pulled the city together for this and have made it a huge success. Weather did help though. The one major downer was the lad who got stabbed to death during the week.