Skippers and Vikings enjoy ‘love affair’ with the West
The display took place just off Mutton Island and lit up most of the city with crowds packing Salthill and Grattan Rd all the way back to the docks.
Sponsored by the US embassy, amongst others, it capped off an evening celebrating all things American, including an Independence Day parade.
As with every day of the Volvo Ocean Race, the gods are not listening to repeated requests to bring a bit of sunshine.
Yesterday again had people running for pavilions and cover of any kind after some truly biblical downpours.
Whatever the weather, it’s not stopping the crowds. As with a parade in Galway, you can’t have a festival without the most famous sons of Tuam putting on a show and, true to form, almost 60,000 revellers thronged the docks and surrounding streets for a bit of I Useta Love Her from The Sawdoctors on Tuesday night.
Galwegian Emer Glynn was back in town yesterday to soak up a bit more of the nautical vibe.
“It was some craic with The Sawdoctors last night, I have to say. The place was rocking so I said I’d tip in for a look at the fireworks. I didn’t think it would be as big as the last time but it’s been way bigger. Hopefully, we will get it back again because it’s just been a great boost for the place,” she said.
John Killeen, of Let’s Do It Global, which are organising the event, agreed. “The crowds attending the festival are enormous and we are overwhelmed by the warmth and the enthusiasm of the welcome which the city and the entire country has extended to the skippers and crews of the Volvo fleet.
“What is particularly significant about the festival this year is that it is not simply confined to a huge welcoming party for the sailors, but has introduced an entirely new dimension with the creation of ‘The Global Village’, which is exploring many ways of developing Galway’s huge potential in the areas of the marine, sustainable energy, food and innovation. We want this to be the real legacy of the success of Volvo Ocean Race finale in our city,” he said.
If the weather keeps up like this, it’s going to be a long week for modern-day Viking Iain Barber from Fingal Living History Society. Dressed in full Viking regalia, Iain and his motley crew probably rank only second to the sailors in terms of what they have had to endure for the past few days. Camping out in an area affectionately known as ‘The Swamp’ and living in the style of Viking times, these guys were going all the way for educational wellbeing.
“We go all around the country bringing this Viking encampment with us everywhere we go. So we will be living here until it comes to arguing time really. We will cook here, eat here and sleep here. We have set up a mess, a carpenters’ area and a blacksmith so we are all set,” he said.
Whatever the City of the Tribes is doing, it seems it’s doing it right.
All of the captains have been raving about the city, with a number planning on taking an extended holiday in the West.
Puma’s Mar Mostro skipper Ken Read has already given his seal of approval to the city as a stopover and is enjoying a “love affair with Galway”. He said: “Why mess with success?” Why indeed.
* 10am: International Sustainability Summit (until 5pm): official opening by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny
* 10am: Try Sailing with Galway Bay Sailing Club and Volvo Ocean Race Academy (from 11am)
* 3pm: Connacht Rugby Pro Player Workshops for Kids, Global Village
* 4pm: Cruising Experience (until 7pm) Galway Bay
* 5pm: Parachute Display and Delivery of Volvo Ocean Race Trophy by Helicopter: South Park
* 5pm: Prize-giving Ceremony Volvo Ocean Race Leg 7 ‘Lorient to Galway’ Race Village, Harbour Main Stage
* 7pm: Volvo Ocean Race Skippers Shindig Global Village attended by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny
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