Rain fails to dampen the party
Much wetter.
Nobody embraces the rain quite like the Galwegians and they got plenty of it yesterday as the Volvo Ocean Race party kicked off in style.
The city was universally acclaimed for its hosting of the event last time around and the 2012 version already looks like it is going to be even more spectacular. While the 2009 stopover saw the city soaked in sun, it was back to the usual brand of soaking for the first day of this year’s instalment.
Everything is just that little bit bigger this time. More stages, more food stalls, more music and more events. The alcohol intake looks like it will be about the same — epic.
Galway docks has been transformed since the Volvo Ocean race first came to town three years ago. Usually a ghost town from one end of the year to the next, the last few years have seen it revitalised into quite the hip place to be seen. Yesterday, it was packed with people, yachts and pleasure craft. Those lucky enough to own a vessel were enjoying a few glasses of champagne on board in spite of the deluge. Not quite Monte Carlo, but it’s Ireland’s little slice of heaven for the next week or so.
One couple who were more yacht watchers rather than yacht owners were Donal and Deirdre McFadden. Celebrating their daughter Rachel’s first birthday, they are enjoying a week off work for the festival. Being proud Galwegians, a little bit or a lot of rain was not going to stand in their way.
“Well if it’s anything like the last time it will be amazing. The crowds will be huge hail, rain or shine as we love a festival here. It’s great to have the few days off to enjoy it. There’s great food, gigs, and the prices aren’t the worst. All we need is a bit of sun and we will be smiling,” said Donal.
Each day, the festival will showcase the culture of a different country and yesterday was the turn of the French. So while you needed as much gear as some of the competitors to get around a drenched Race Village, you could could do it enjoying the best wine and cheese the French nation has to offer. You had to pity the French mime artists. Proudly doing there thing to the end, it must have been hard not to roar obscenities at what the sky was throwing down on them.
One couple born far from France was Paul Murphy and Caroline Coran.
“It’s way bigger this time around so it could be a crazy week. We were out for a few drinks last night and the buzz was amazing, a bit like Race Week. All we need is a bit of bloody sun now but this is Galway. We don’t do sun. And sure, you don’t always need the weather to have the craic. We’ll enjoy it either way,” said Caroline.
The more famous yachts might not be arriving until some time in the early hours of tomorrow, but that didn’t stop a spectacular flotilla of Galway Hookers racing from Salthill into the docks.
Over 100,000 people visited the Race Village and Global Village on the opening day of the festival on Saturday, and yesterday was no different. Those who couldn’t handle the rain took the short skip onto Galway’s famous Quay Street for some of the city’s best watering holes.
Even the big celebrity hitters want in on the act. First, Dara O’Briain kicked off the opening night on Saturday, while last night the boys from Apres Match entertained the soaking masses for the final of the European Championships. We haven’t even had The Sawdoctors yet.
The race might have started in Alicante, but the party starts in Galway.
