Galway Races: Numbers up but the rain’s still pouring down

After the not quite glorious sunshine of Monday, it was back to more traditional fare at Galway yesterday — impossible weather.

With numbers up on the first day of the festival, it’s looking like it could be one of the bigger years in the West. If the numbers in the city on Monday were anything to go by, it could well be a bumper year.

Galway has a festival reputation at the best of times, but things reach another level during the Galway Races. A simple stroll down Shop St and Quay St becomes a reunion with punters and friends. Win are celebrated, while losses are drowned in an endless supply of pubs and restaurants.