Wall kicking in Salthill

Bob_the_dog · 02-01-2011 4:33pm #1

Why do people kick the wall at the end of Salthill prom. Has the wall done something bad to all Galwegians in the past?

My new years resolution is to clear up all these annoying questions in my life

Bob

emptybladder · 02-01-2011 4:44pm

Uh-oh. Dr McManus is back!

Bob_the_dog · 02-01-2011 7:07pm

emptybladder wrote: »

Uh-oh. Dr McManus is back!

Who is Dr McManus???

Bob

Storm 10 · 02-01-2011 7:17pm

Its a tradition started many many years ago its supposed to bring good luck to kick the wall with your foot after walking the prom.

PS Never done me any good all the times I kicked it

:D

Ficheall · 02-01-2011 7:51pm

It knocks off some of the sand that accumulates on your shoes as you walk along the prom, thereby lightening your load for the return journey.

JohnCleary · 02-01-2011 7:54pm

For generations people have wanted to extend the Salthill prom, so way back people started kicking that damned wall in the hope of pushing it west, thus increasing the length of the prom

:pac:

RubyGirl · 02-01-2011 7:54pm

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21201672550

Dunjohn · 02-01-2011 8:31pm

Kicking the wall was, I understand, originally introduced by the Council as a safety measure against the considerable and unexpected momentum built up by walking the entire length of the Prom. Prior to that, Prom walkers would simply slap right into the wall, having failed to begin slowdown back at the shelters, resulting in injury and embarassment, particularly if the donkey was there watching.

thenakedchef · 02-01-2011 8:36pm

Ficheall wrote: »

It knocks off some of the sand that accumulates on your shoes as you walk along the prom, thereby lightening your load for the return journey.

Or the dog $hit

Fuinseog · 02-01-2011 11:33pm

i miss the donkey that used to be there beside the house at Blackrock. a pity the house was let fall apart, but hard for anyone to live there with the uncouth element that the place sometimes attracted.

BTW do the gays still meet up at Blackrock after dark?

Das Kitty · 03-01-2011 12:34am

Fuinseog wrote: »

BTW do the gays still meet up at Blackrock after dark?

Only you could turn a thread about kicking a wall halfway through a walk into this!

Mrs OBumble · 03-01-2011 1:16am

I thought there was an underground pipe that is putting pressure on the wall, and the council had asked citizens to assist by putting some pressure in the opposite direction until such time as they could afford to fix it.

of course, but sure'n it's a good story to tell the Americans (who believe it), and also to tell other tourists as a warning about how the Irish tell tales to tourists.

howyanow · 03-01-2011 12:08pm

i always was told it was to give you luck for the return journey,i always found it amusing showing people for the 1st time.

biko · 03-01-2011 1:51pm

Fuinseog wrote: »

BTW do the gays still meet up at Blackrock after dark?

I respect your lifestyle choice and all but please keep this thread about the wall only.

snubbleste · 03-01-2011 1:59pm

When will some enterprising graffiti artist put a montage of irish political figures on that wall, so that we gain a bit of pleasure from kicking the wall?

all that dog poo..

Fuinseog · 03-01-2011 2:12pm

biko wrote: »

I respect your lifestyle choice and all but please keep this thread about the wall only.

do they not do it agin the wall?

seniorolaighin · 03-01-2011 2:14pm

its because if they dont kick it they'll keep walking and wont stop.....:D

Bob_the_dog · 03-01-2011 2:38pm

Many Thanks for all the replies

I particularly like the idea of a politicians face being put on the wall but sadly the wall isn't big enough for all our useless politicians but as least the next time I'm out walking I can visualise there faces.

How far to the nearest A&E Dept, I have a lof of kicking to do:D

mrsdewinter · 03-01-2011 4:25pm

I thought the tradition was as old as Blackrock itself, but a friend of mine used to swear up and down that he only started seeing walkers kick the wall in the 90s. He's wrong, isn't he?

Meteoric · 03-01-2011 9:56pm

Well I used kick the wall as a kid in the late 70's and 80's and that was because my parents told me it was what they had done since they were kids so no, it did not start in the 90's

Dunjohn · 03-01-2011 11:40pm

snubbleste wrote: »

When will some enterprising graffiti artist put a montage of irish political figures on that wall, so that we gain a bit of pleasure from kicking the wall?

In all seriousness, I hope never.

Fuinseog · 03-01-2011 11:48pm

Dunjohn wrote: »

In all seriousness, I hope never.

hear hear

Fuinseog · 03-01-2011 11:55pm

Meteoric wrote: »

Well I used kick the wall as a kid in the late 70's and 80's and that was because my parents told me it was what they had done since they were kids so no, it did not start in the 90's

in dem days you did not question such things

roboshatner · 04-01-2011 12:03am

what is wall kicking ?

Bob_the_dog wrote: »

Why do people kick the wall at the end of Salthill prom. Has the wall done something bad to all Galwegians in the past?

My new years resolution is to clear up all these annoying questions in my life

Bob

Meteoric · 04-01-2011 12:16am

Fuinseog wrote: »

in dem days you did not question such things

Lol, actually I did, was told it was the tradition and that it signified that I'd walked the entire length of the Prom so was a way of marking the half-way point (since we always had to walk back)

Lapin · 04-01-2011 12:26am

One of these days that wall is gonna start kicking people back. :eek:

roboshatner · 04-01-2011 12:29am

what is wall kicking ? never heard of it.

Mars Bar · 04-01-2011 12:49am

roboshatner wrote: »

what is wall kicking ? never heard of it.

Well, you kick a wall.

roboshatner · 04-01-2011 3:53am

Only in ireland

mars bar wrote: »

Well, you kick a wall.

Dunjohn · 04-01-2011 12:20pm

When people reach the Blackrock end of the Prom, they usually kick the wall before turning back.

Personally, I reckon it's just a way to keep your pace when you reach the end. It's not a proper tradition, just something that people "do." It's physically easier to turn on one foot and if people didn't do it, and if the wall was higher, they'd be tapping it with two fingers or something.

Blinking_Badger · 04-01-2011 12:42pm

is there any danger of the wall collapsing on top of an unlucky kicker after all the bashing it gets? This thought runs through my mind every time i roundhouse it..........

biko · 04-01-2011 12:48pm

Kicking the wall is the only way to make sure you actually walked the distance and isn't a lazy git.

"What ya do Sunday?"
"Walked the prom"
"Did ya kick the wall?"
"No"
"???"

Blinking_Badger · 04-01-2011 12:52pm

biko wrote: »

Kicking the wall is the only way to make sure you actually walked the distance and isn't a lazy git.

"What ya do Sunday?"
"Walked the prom"
"Did ya kick the wall?"
"No"
"???"

ha ha ha!! True.............

joeKel73 · 04-01-2011 2:20pm

I think it's common enough anywhere that has a long straight walk with a definate end. They do it at the end of Nimmo's pier too.

Otherwise it'd be an awkward moment of coming to a stop, turning around, then walking back... it'd make it seem like a pointless trip rather than a small achievement!

dilallio · 04-01-2011 2:25pm

Blinking_Badger wrote: »

is there any danger of the wall collapsing on top of an unlucky kicker after all the bashing it gets? This thought runs through my mind every time i roundhouse it..........

No.

Chuck Norris hasn't walked the prom yet.

Wompa1 · 04-01-2011 3:46pm

JustMary wrote: »

I thought there was an underground pipe that is putting pressure on the wall, and the council had asked citizens to assist by putting some pressure in the opposite direction until such time as they could afford to fix it.

of course, but sure'n it's a good story to tell the Americans (who believe it), and also to tell other tourists as a warning about how the Irish tell tales to tourists.

I'm Irish and at this stage I'd nearly believe something like that.

Signed,

Smelly Galwiegan who's been without water since the 22nd of December

dolphin city · 06-01-2011 10:24am

mrsdewinter wrote: »

I thought the tradition was as old as Blackrock itself, but a friend of mine used to swear up and down that he only started seeing walkers kick the wall in the 90s. He's wrong, isn't he?

definitely wrong - its been going for at LEAST the last 40 years.

wet-paint · 06-01-2011 3:18pm

I like it. I know it's a nonsensical tradition, but when you do it, you're included in the thousands of people that do it, and thus part of a group, giving yo ua sense of belonging. It's a Galwegian thing to do, along with strangling swans down the Claddagh, and breaking bottles of Buckie down the arch.

Meteoric · 06-01-2011 11:24pm

wet-paint wrote: »

I like it. I know it's a nonsensical tradition, but when you do it, you're included in the thousands of people that do it, and thus part of a group, giving yo ua sense of belonging. It's a Galwegian thing to do, along with strangling swans down the Claddagh, and breaking bottles of Buckie down the arch.

Oooooooo:eek: Of those three I've only ever done the kicking the wall thing

JaneB · 13-01-2011 5:54pm

Bob_the_dog wrote: »

Why do people kick the wall at the end of Salthill prom.
Bob

Well if they head-butted it they would hurt themselves!! Don't ask silly questions!!:p

ttoppcat · 13-01-2011 7:28pm

wet-paint wrote: »

along with strangling swans down the Claddagh,

I initially read that as straddling swans:eek:

wet-paint · 14-01-2011 3:51am

Or swaddling swans.

Lapin · 14-01-2011 6:10am

wet-paint wrote: »

Or swaddling swans.

Dangerous little feckers them.

Placebo Effect · 11-06-2011 10:05am

Does anyone know the approx. distance from Nimmos Pier to the wall @ Blackrock?

I can't seem to find it anywhere online, thanks.

biko · 11-06-2011 10:22am

3.5km

blogga · 11-06-2011 10:29am

wet-paint wrote: »

I like it. I know it's a nonsensical tradition, but when you do it, you're included in the thousands of people that do it, and thus part of a group, giving yo ua sense of belonging. It's a Galwegian thing to do, along with strangling swans down the Claddagh, and breaking bottles of Buckie down the arch.

Skangers and swan strangling and buckie drinking. Some skangers are Galwegians but not all Galwegians are skangers.

Placebo Effect · 11-06-2011 10:32am

biko wrote: »

3.5km

Thanks Biko..

Hyperbullet · 11-06-2011 11:40am

roboshatner wrote: »

Only in ireland

Not really. Sure didn't Jesus himself hit a kick in a wall before the cross was placed on his shoulder. It's in the bible, look it up.

got2011 · 07-08-2011 6:27pm

when I was there in May, a local told me the tradition had to do with some estate owner building the wall in ancient times (he didn't elaborate on 'ancient'), presumably to keep riff-raff off the estate, or on it; however, it clearly interferes with one's ability to walk along the shore... Galwegians have been kicking it ever since it was built on the understanding that it will eventually fall down if everyone does their bit. You must understand that I'm from Canada and we are willing to believe anything.
Galway and the west are possibly my most favourite places in the world, next to the east coast of Newfoundland (especially the so-called Irish Loop), which is pretty much identical, but with fewer pubs and more moose.

Wall kicking in Salthill

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