Colin Sheridan: 'Are ya going racing?' - Almost everyone in Galway, 2002-2009

One friend once did six days and six nights. He later recounted “I’ve never been to war…but that was my Vietnam”

AND THEY'RE OFF: Runners and riders taking part in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle during day seven of the Galway Races Summer Festival at Galway Racecourse. Photo credit: Niall Carson/PA Wire.

There was a time, around about 2008, when, for one week, the skies around Galway were filled with helicopters and the streets hummed with the sweet smell of Issey Miyake and late edition Joop. 

Race week would start relatively slowly, two evening meetings on Monday and Tuesday allowed families and people with a legitimate interest in the horses to “walk the course”, so to speak, before the calm gave way to a very bespoke kind of madness which would peak on Thursday, ladies day.