Just two weeks to go!! [it's over]

Wompa1

mrkiscool2 wrote: »

Sorry, what the fcuk are you on? You've clearly never been to anything in the history of anything if you think there is nothing like Race Week. As someone who has been at both Race Week and the Olympics I can far and away say the 4 days I spent in London for the Olympics was the single greatest experience of my life and has actually got me saving for Rio. Another mate of mine (who is actually from Galway-I've only lived here for a few years) was at the Olympics with me and the World Cup in Brazil and while he ranks the 4 days of the Olympics as the greatest days of his life, he ranks the two weeks at the World Cup a very close second.

If you think the Galway Races is the best thing ever you are very sadly mistaken. It's very sad you can even say that and not be called on it! As a racing fan I enjoy going to the races, however I prefer the Derby in the Curragh. Way better atmosphere at the course and nowhere near as many problems in the local town (Newbridge). Sure, people go drinking there and you do get idiots, but nowhere near as many as you get in Galway during Race Week. It's actually very sad that people think Galway Race Week is the greatest event in Ireland when it's not even close.

Also, it's way more than a "bit of puke and piss". People think it's perfectly ok to sh1t on people's lawns, start fights, stab people, wreck property and cause general mayhem in the city. You're either a person involved with the races or an idiot if you believe that the Galway Races are a. The best event in Ireland every year and/or b. only causes a bit of piss and puke in the town.

Your post comes across as very pompous...even though I dislike the races too. Not everybody is going to get to go to the Olympics or the World Cup in person. Not everybody will even get to go to the Curragh. Also, even if they did, it's completely subjective....

All I'll say is, it would be great if the people saying the races are class, would stop also saying you're just dry, bitter etc. and never actually stating that the comments about the behavior and ****e that goes on is absolutely true...

Also to snubbleste. Cllr Conneely is probably looking down at two lads working in a hole somewhere as we type this

beardybrewer

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

If you don't want to go Races there's always the fantastic scenery of Connemara. There'll be little to no traffic once you pass Salthill and you can pick between great spots like Clifden, Roundstone, Spiddal, Twelve Pins, An Cheathrú Rua........to an endless list. You'd be surprised how few people living in Galway actually venture out west.

I agree with the above post. Just stay out of town and you'll be fine. Salthill will be busy but tolerable. Padraicins in Furbo is always nice if you need a meal. It's only a week and good for Galway. Nay sayers can suck it up.

Mrs OBumble

There are some lovely scenic spots in Kerry.

The Giant's Causeway is amazing.

Waterford has Tramore (aka Bundoran of the south).

Cork has an opera house and lots of high-art stuff.

The Aran islands .. the big one is peaceful each evening once the day's tourist crop has departed (and the crowds may be less this week, I'm not sure).

Lots of places we can go!



(Personally I'm stuck at work, so will just be dodging it by sticking to the side streets, and not going out next week. Am so used to the noise now that I can sleep thru anything.)

Cocolola

Not sure if I should have put this in its own thread or somewhere else, so mods, please move if necessary.

I'm going to be working at the Races this year and I'll be coming from Knocknacarra. I need to be at the racecourse around 1-2 hours before the first race each day so I'm wondering roughly how long it'll take for me to drive with traffic? I've never been so much as near the vicinity during previous race weeks so I've only heard the stories :eek:

Thanks

snubbleste

Cocolola wrote: »

Not sure if I should have put this in its own thread or somewhere else, so mods, please move if necessary.
I'm going to be working at the Races this year and I'll be coming from Knocknacarra. I need to be at the racecourse around 1-2 hours before the first race each day so I'm wondering roughly how long it'll take for me to drive with traffic? I've never been so much as near the vicinity during previous race weeks so I've only heard the stories :eek:
Thanks

Top tip:

Tarzana

zarquon wrote: »

Fair stretch to say that people are easily shocked if they are put out by the human sex trafficking that feeds events such as this

A good story here from a former victim of these type of brothels:

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/a-woman-trafficked-into-the-sex-trade-in-ireland-tells-her-story-29760573.html

Sadly a surplus amount of sex trafficking victims located around Ireland are shifted into Galway for race week as there is lots of demand

That's harrowing. That woman has amazing strength of character.

zarquon

Tarzana wrote: »

That's harrowing. That woman has amazing strength of character.

Sadly there will be many more like her shuttled into Galway for the duration of the races. It's the seedier side of the week that many like to duck their head in the sand and pretend does not exist, either that or some people simply do not care.

Diabhal Beag

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

There are some lovely scenic spots in Kerry.

The Giant's Causeway is amazing.

Waterford has Tramore (aka Bundoran of the south).

Cork has an opera house and lots of high-art stuff.

Nah they're all ****e. Keep it in the county.

thesandeman

Cocolola wrote: »

Not sure if I should have put this in its own thread or somewhere else, so mods, please move if necessary.

I'm going to be working at the Races this year and I'll be coming from Knocknacarra. I need to be at the racecourse around 1-2 hours before the first race each day so I'm wondering roughly how long it'll take for me to drive with traffic? I've never been so much as near the vicinity during previous race weeks so I've only heard the stories :eek:

Thanks

Lydonhouse should be running a bus for the catering staff a couple of hours before the races. One of the pick up spots is in Knocknacarra. See if you can arrange to hitch a lift on that.

Wompa1

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Nah they're all ****e. Keep it in the county.

Love Kerry and the Giants Causeway. The downside of the county of Galway for the week is the drink drivers.

Irishgoatman

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Nah they're all ****e. Keep it in the county.

There speaks an obviously well travelled person:rolleyes:.

Or a stick in the mud who never goes anywhere.

Diabhal Beag

Aye because that was a serious comment.

Stick in the mud that was in lovely Tullamore today^^

WallyGUFC

mrkiscool2 wrote: »

Sorry, what the fcuk are you on? You've clearly never been to anything in the history of anything if you think there is nothing like Race Week. As someone who has been at both Race Week and the Olympics I can far and away say the 4 days I spent in London for the Olympics was the single greatest experience of my life and has actually got me saving for Rio. Another mate of mine (who is actually from Galway-I've only lived here for a few years) was at the Olympics with me and the World Cup in Brazil and while he ranks the 4 days of the Olympics as the greatest days of his life, he ranks the two weeks at the World Cup a very close second.

If you think the Galway Races is the best thing ever you are very sadly mistaken. It's very sad you can even say that and not be called on it! As a racing fan I enjoy going to the races, however I prefer the Derby in the Curragh. Way better atmosphere at the course and nowhere near as many problems in the local town (Newbridge). Sure, people go drinking there and you do get idiots, but nowhere near as many as you get in Galway during Race Week. It's actually very sad that people think Galway Race Week is the greatest event in Ireland when it's not even close.

Also, it's way more than a "bit of puke and piss". People think it's perfectly ok to sh1t on people's lawns, start fights, stab people, wreck property and cause general mayhem in the city. You're either a person involved with the races or an idiot if you believe that the Galway Races are a. The best event in Ireland every year and/or b. only causes a bit of piss and puke in the town.

I laughed hard at this. What an extraordinary overreaction. I've never heard of Race Week being synonymous with an upsurge in knife crime in the city. Have you any evidence of this? Have you evidence of people taking dumps in people's gardens? I've never seen any more fighting during Race Week than on a typical Friday or Saturday night during the year. If you don't like the mayhem, stay away. Last thing this town needs is a minority of critics ruining the craic for the majority.

mrkiscool2

mrkiscool2 wrote: »

Sorry, what the fcuk are you on? You've clearly never been to anything in the history of anything if you think there is nothing like Race Week. As someone who has been at both Race Week and the Olympics I can far and away say the 4 days I spent in London for the Olympics was the single greatest experience of my life and has actually got me saving for Rio. Another mate of mine (who is actually from Galway-I've only lived here for a few years) was at the Olympics with me and the World Cup in Brazil and while he ranks the 4 days of the Olympics as the greatest days of his life, he ranks the two weeks at the World Cup a very close second.

If you think the Galway Races is the best thing ever you are very sadly mistaken. It's very sad you can even say that and not be called on it! As a racing fan I enjoy going to the races, however I prefer the Derby in the Curragh. Way better atmosphere at the course and nowhere near as many problems in the local town (Newbridge). Sure, people go drinking there and you do get idiots, but nowhere near as many as you get in Galway during Race Week. It's actually very sad that people think Galway Race Week is the greatest event in Ireland when it's not even close.

Also, it's way more than a "bit of puke and piss". People think it's perfectly ok to sh1t on people's lawns, start fights, stab people, wreck property and cause general mayhem in the city. You're either a person involved with the races or an idiot if you believe that the Galway Races are a. The best event in Ireland every year and/or b. only causes a bit of piss and puke in the town.

A nonsense post from start to finish.

The Galway races is a unique event that you will not get anywhere else in the world. No other city turns into a party town like Galway during the races, no other place cordons off most of the city centre and allowed people to drink and have the craic on the streets etc etc.

People come from abroad and are amazed at how good race week in Galway is. It's your loss you can't see how good it is and you are totally exaggerating the bad bits of race week like most of the anti-races brigade. Mayhem in the city :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Just over 24h and we are away

JONJO THE MISER

Cant wait for it to start tomorrow, there will be plenty of drinking and gambling for me this week.
Some people just seem to be right old misery guts complaining about race week, maybe if they took a chill pill followed by a couple of pints that might sort them out but i highly doubt it.

Diabhal Beag

Lost many a friend to overdosing on chill pills. Stick to eccies.

Few lovely pints had in the local tonight to get warmed up for the week!

Won't be long now.....

takamichinoku

First time in Galway on race week and living in the city centre. Been kind of dreading it but seeing how nuts my new flatmate went there yesterday morning from the seagulls outside, I'm looking forward to watching him gradually go insane as the week progresses.


One question, what's the deal regarding bins and stuff, is it safe enough to leave a bag out on the street or should I just let them build up at the back for the week?

JillyQ

takamichinoku wrote: »

First time in Galway on race week and living in the city centre. Been kind of dreading it but seeing how nuts my new flatmate went there yesterday morning from the seagulls outside, I'm looking forward to watching him gradually go insane as the week progresses.


One question, what's the deal regarding bins and stuff, is it safe enough to leave a bag out on the street or should I just let them build up at the back for the week?

Leave them out early in the morning that they are to be picked. City bin always asks you to have them out around 6am

snubbleste

Have Council administrative staff gone on holiday or something?

Also the Council have created a short concrete footpath, put in place barriers & traffic cones on the N6 entrance. Wonder why?

Mrs OBumble

snubbleste wrote: »

Have Council administrative staff gone on holiday or something?

Also the Council have created a short concrete footpath, put in place barriers & traffic cones on the N6 entrance. Wonder why?

I believe that some of them take leave in Race Week - not sure what proportion.

And I would guess that the N6 entrance work is part of the traffic management plan.

takamichinoku

JillyQ wrote: »

Leave them out early in the morning that they are to be picked. City bin always asks you to have them out around 6am

Cheers! Also, they collect every morning except Sunday, right? Their own website doesn't seem to give a schedule.

ben.schlomo

takamichinoku wrote: »

Cheers! Also, they collect every morning except Sunday, right? Their own website doesn't seem to give a schedule.

yep.

Zzippy

Not in town tonight, any posters there to report? Has the apocalypse started yet?

inisboffin

Nothing too crazy at tea time, but there was a noticeable increase in people 'dressed up', walking into other people and not apologising...:rolleyes:

dloob

Just a week to go and the Alcoholics convention will be over :pac:

takamichinoku

There's one hell of a lot of noise coming from a distance here, if I wasn't super tired I'd walk down to investigate.

...will leave it till tomorrow.

ben.schlomo

Im a stones throw from Cross/High St, sounds like a quiet Saturday night. Quieter due to a lack of taxis beeping too.

takamichinoku

I'm in woodquay and I hear something like crowd noises in FIFA, but it's miles off.

Mrs OBumble

Probably the usual braying crowd outside Sueprmacs (I'm guessing wasn't there)

Was a bit of an upsurge in noise once the crown came into town, but it died off relatively quickly. Pubs were supposed to be open until 2am, but some closed early due to lack of customers. Guards were bored .. they had time to spend telling off a lone tin-whistle playing busker All according to a reliable eye-witness who went out for a midnight walk. There were a surprising number of people going home loudly after 6am, though.

mikehunts

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Probably the usual braying crowd outside Sueprmacs (I'm guessing wasn't there)

Was a bit of an upsurge in noise once the crown came into town, but it died off relatively quickly. Pubs were supposed to be open until 2pm, but some closed early due to lack of customers. Guards were bored .. they had time to spend telling off a lone tin-whistle playing busker All according to a reliable eye-witness who went out for a midnight walk. There were a surprising number of people going home loudly after 6am, though.

Surely it wasn't that quiet the pubs closed at 2 in the day.

snubbleste

Mobile stand alone cameras are about to monitor traffic - there is one on Bóthar na dTreabh. It is a small trailer sized box with a tall pole sticking out with a swivel camera atop.
Hopefully it is also catching all the speeding going on there.

Zzippy

snubbleste wrote: »

Mobile stand alone cameras are about to monitor traffic - there is one on Bóthar na dTreabh. It is a small trailer sized box with a tall pole sticking out with a swivel camera atop.
Hopefully it is also catching all the speeding going on there.

I'm guessing you consider 50km/h a realistic speed limit on that 4-lane road with no houses along it?

MadYaker

Faaack is that what that is?? I flew past it at about 80kph earlier!

snubbleste

snubbleste wrote: »

Mobile stand alone cameras are about to monitor traffic - there is one on Bóthar na dTreabh. It is a small trailer sized box with a tall pole sticking out with a swivel camera atop.
Hopefully it is also catching all the speeding going on there.

The road with the worlds most ridiculous speed limit is it. It's probably the safest road in the country.

Speeding my arse.

Aerohead

snubbleste wrote: »

Mobile stand alone cameras are about to monitor traffic - there is one on Bóthar na dTreabh. It is a small trailer sized box with a tall pole sticking out with a swivel camera atop.
Hopefully it is also catching all the speeding going on there.

It can't be a speed camera as there is no camera sign for it, there has to be a speed camera sign if it is that, I guess it's monitoring the race traffic and as already stated the speed limit on that road is just plain stupid given how good the road is and the small side roads are 80kmh

loser2old4board

Was in around the centre of town from about 7.30 until 11 this eve.
A good few buskers around and a good mix of tourists and Irish enjoying the buzz on the street.
It got a bit busier after the races at around 9. Good humoured crowd, not much loud drunken roaring that early.
The man with the reverse steering bike had a good crowd and plenty of customers.
Pish and puke report: Just saw one young man puke the contents along Shop St and carried on walking with his friends without pausing for breath. Bad pint!
A few tourists had on their “What did I just see” faces.

Tugboats

Doesn't seem to be any helicopters or Hoes

Acidflash

Gardai closed a few places early last night that hadn't applied for an extra late license. There are exemptions for race week but usually the Monday and Tuesday are not covered.

Larianne

My hat arrived! YAY

I'm going tomorrow. Not sure if good idea/bad idea...

Mrs OBumble

Acidflash wrote: »

Gardai closed a few places early last night that hadn't applied for an extra late license. There are exemptions for race week but usually the Monday and Tuesday are not covered.

Rumour around the place is that VFI gave mixed messages about what days they'd applied for, ie told some people that Monday was definitely covered.

Larianne

Larianne wrote: »

My hat arrived! YAY

I'm going tomorrow. Not sure if good idea/bad idea...

It's a great idea.

Has been great up there the last two evenings, great atmosphere and a big crowd Monday for a Monday and a nice crowd yesterday too. Things will be hotting up more now this evening with the Plate and tomorrow could be a bumper Thursday, I'm expecting it too be bigger than the last few years.

Acidflash

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Rumour around the place is that VFI gave mixed messages about what days they'd applied for, ie told some people that Monday was definitely covered.

Never heard of the VFI applying on behalf of pubs to be honest, at least they didn't when i worked in the service industry, although that's a while ago so maybe things are different. Silly telling people they can stay open if they can't, publicans could have been chancing their arms too, wouldn't be the first time.

cson

Landing down at 9ish tonite, any suggestions for where to park/where'll have spaces?

zarquon

cson wrote: »

Landing down at 9ish tonite, any suggestions for where to park/where'll have spaces?

Parking will be at a premium in town i.e. little or none at least for on street parking. Try Debenhams, dyke road or cathedral. Unfortunately you are hitting town not long after the race crowd converge on the city centre so you will be stuck for parking.

thesandeman

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Rumour around the place is that VFI gave mixed messages about what days they'd applied for, ie told some people that Monday was definitely covered.

Yeah. They sent us the list of general exemptions a couple of months ago but realised yesterday they had forgotten to apply for the Monday and Tuesday extensions. Bit of a 'Brooksgate' screw up.
The guards turned a blind eye on Monday as they knew nobody realised but came around to all the pubs yesterday to let us know.
The problem was for the usual late bars (Dail, Front Door etc.) as they hadn't bought an extension as they thought they were covered so they had to close early as well. Also the regular pubs had staff and music organised.
I reckon there are a few red faces in VFI Towers today.

Gerobrien25

thesandeman wrote: »

Yeah. They sent us the list of general exemptions a couple of months ago but realised yesterday they had forgotten to apply for the Monday and Tuesday extensions. Bit of a 'Brooksgate' screw up.
The guards turned a blind eye on Monday as they knew nobody realised but came around to all the pubs yesterday to let us know.
The problem was for the usual late bars (Dail, Front Door etc.) as they hadn't bought an extension as they thought they were covered so they had to close early as well. Also the regular pubs had staff and music organised.
I reckon there are a few red faces in VFI Towers today.

Some pubs didn't need to apply for the extensions as the don't use them for the Arts Festival, which took the original Monday and Tuesday extensions for race week years ago.

loser2old4board

I had an enjoyable day out at the racecourse today. Thousands of people out enjoying the day’s races. I was in around town from 10 to 11 pm. The streets around the bigger pubs were well crowded but not wedged. You could pass through fairly easily at that time. High St and Quay St becomes a kind of open air bar. The crowd were a little bit on the drunker side of boisterous
but nothing out of the ordinary for a Race Night in Galway. Not enough buskers out and Gino’s ice cream shop closed early .

Wompa1

loser2old4board wrote: »

I had an enjoyable day out at the racecourse today. Thousands of people out enjoying the day’s races. I was in around town from 10 to 11 pm. The streets around the bigger pubs were well crowded but not wedged. You could pass through fairly easily at that time. High St and Quay St becomes a kind of open air bar. The crowd were a little bit on the drunker side of boisterous
but nothing out of the ordinary for a Race Night in Galway. Not enough buskers out and Gino’s ice cream shop closed early .

Sounds like pre-boom era Race week. Crowds but not mobbed

ArtyC

loser2old4board wrote: »

I had an enjoyable day out at the racecourse today. Thousands of people out enjoying the day’s races. I was in around town from 10 to 11 pm. The streets around the bigger pubs were well crowded but not wedged. You could pass through fairly easily at that time. High St and Quay St becomes a kind of open air bar. The crowd were a little bit on the drunker side of boisterous
but nothing out of the ordinary for a Race Night in Galway. Not enough buskers out and Gino’s ice cream shop closed early .

Too many buskers then out by day... It's a bit too much !
Ah well happy race week!