Ruby Walsh: Things change but the Galway Festival keeps on delivering

The City of the Tribes will put on a show this week.

David Holland puts the final finishing touches to the Galway racecourse before the start of the Galway Races Festival. Photo: Ray Ryan

Things change. The All-Ireland finals have concluded before Galway race week starts, and instead of just those out of the championship appearing in the crowd to let off steam with the thousands of others doing the same, the champions will have that option too. More likely, it will be those who lost the recent finals who turn up, as the winners parade around their county to enjoy the adulation they deserve.

Those parties will be localised to county towns and villages and attended mainly by loyal county people. Still, this afternoon Galway City will open its doors to the nation, as it always does, and the party will begin.