Bucky Plaza Tonight ( Paddys Day)

Sponge Bob

Just spoke to a rather rattled mate who drove past Bucky Plaza @ 8pm in his swank 09 wheels .

He said that it is insane down there at the moment with cops everywhere trying to herd drunks off the road .

banshee_bones

Well id certainly believe that! The place was manic at 4 pm today! people everywhere! A crowd were applauding a man using a dustbin as some bongo drums! There was also a mexican wave (or ten) being conducted while i was there! The line forming to get into Harvest was a sight aswell!! :pac:

Svalbard

Hang on, has "Bucky Plaza" actually stuck as a de facto name?

Sponge Bob

It has , Buckfast Lane is the one that did not stick .

I even know pensioners who call it Bucky Plaza nowadays , they walk their dogs there of a morning .

cornbb

It was getting fairly rowdy when I was there at around 5pm. The cops looked pretty unprepared - during race week etc they usually have big bins everywhere and barriers beside the window... gotta say I'm kinda tempted to take a walk or a spin down there now and see what's going on...

Sconsey

Yah, I drove by at about 6:30pm and the traffic had to crawl past, it looked very messy to be honest: youngsters locked walking in and out of traffic, scumbags looking very dodgy (I think there was a fight going on behind the museum), and two cops up a Jurys trying not to look worried! The place was packed.

I'd say the cops are in for a busy night.

cornbb

Here's a snap I took at around 4pm:

Sponge Bob

Oops , the tide is in right now

Lockstep

banshee_bones wrote: »

Well id certainly believe that! The place was manic at 4 pm today! people everywhere! A crowd were applauding a man using a dustbin as some bongo drums!

He was mad, that fella.

I was there around 4pm and the amount of people there was unreal. A few guards trying to maintain a presence and they kept being chatted up by drunken girls.
Madness.

Xiney

Was there around 5:30 - it was packed but it didn't seem crazy - just a lot of people, most of them sitting down.

snubbleste

Were the gardai emptying alcohol bottles given that it is illegal to drink in public?

Xiney

not when I was there

I don't think they would have wanted to start a riot.

JIZZLORD

i was down there all afternoon. it had a great atmosphere, but the amount of litter was disgusting, every bin there was spewing with rubbish.

Roy Rogers

Aye, I was out on the middle pier for a while yesterday afternoon. It was nice to have a few cans in the sunshine, and there was a nice laid-back buzz around. However, I left about half five... I'd say that it wasn't quite so nice a couple of hours after that!

I did see a handful of cops strolling around but to be honest, they'd have needed every paddywagon in Galway to confiscate the drink. I was also wondering why they got rid of the skips that are normally down there. The only explanation myself and the mates could think of was that they were afraid of them being pushed into the river or something; surely they could have chained the bins to the lampposts though?

I was there too. It was by far one of the best Paddy's day I've had in Galway. Were the pubs busy at all? It seemed like everyone was down the Arch drinking away.

So does this mean we're not calling it the Sparch anymore? And Sparchin it up?

dmcg90

So is Galway County Council going to ban St. Patricks Day now or is that too much of a money spinner for the tourism industry? Hmm...

bigeasyeah

I was in town around 10ish last night to get takeaway.It was well on the way to getting very messy then.A lot of smashed glass.

Krieg

I was there during the day, left around 4pm

I was expecting to see stuff on the news about number of arrests etc. but there was nothing. Im thinking, apart from the usual rubbish and few arrests, it was a "good" st paddys day. Or are stories being brushed under the carpet?

JIZZLORD

foxy_19-89

the general public are going to moan and groan about people littering in the next few days because of the state of the place, where the hell are people suppost to put the emptys?? people made an effort to put the rubbish in/around the bin but thats the most you could do.

the atmosphere was great in the arch all day yesterday, i left at about 9pm when it was starting to get messy.

why didnt they have 10 port-a-loo's there, and ten big whelly bins randomly placed around to save more of a mess again

Zzippy

JIZZLORD wrote: »

Probably same person - I saw a guy dressed like this, arse and all, at lunchtime today walking down Shop St. with a can in his hand, looks like he's making a right ol' session of Paddy's Day! :pac:

bigeasyeah

JIZZLORD wrote: »

I respect the effort!

What was with the people being lowered down the bamk on the salthill side of the river?It happened a few times and people were cheering.

I agree that there should have been port-a-loos left somewhere. And a lot more bins.

If there's one thing I've noticed about Galway city council it's that they seem to not give a crap about the litter situation. There's many parts of the city that have no bins whatsoever, and the places that need them (ie Eyre Square/Spanish Arch) there's not enough!

And then Jury's stopped allowing people from using their toilets, and so began a hunt for somewhere you can pee!

bigeasyeah

Agreed,Galway needs more bins

banshee_bones

bigeasyeah wrote: »

Agreed,Galway needs more bins

For sure. I think they just dont want too many as people are abusing them by stuffing their own refuse in them due to the high rise in refuse costs. Although i do think this may be less possible with the newer design of bins. i.e Smaller openings to fit the rubbish through.

In Toronto they had recycling bins. Gave you an option on the bin, say between, paper plastic and glass or something like that?

However I doubt Galway City Council would be interested in anything like that! :rolleyes:

JIZZLORD

Deleted User wrote: »

What was with the people being lowered down the bamk on the salthill side of the river?It happened a few times and people were cheering.

pics?

i missed this as i was chatting to someone and when someone pointed it out the glare from the river made it impossible to see.

LadyMayBelle

I think Galway has a problem with a lack of bins full stop, I remember it really annoying me that there were no bins from Wards shop by the uni till you reach the town hall...where as I supposed to put my sandwich wrapping?! In the river?!

Seriously tho, that pic indicates that people generally don't want to make a mess, and you will see similar images from an average sunny weekend, why not either have bigger bins with small openings so no household rubbish, or else have someone change the bags?

foxy_19-89

LadyPennyworth wrote: »

I think Galway has a problem with a lack of bins full stop, I remember it really annoying me that there were no bins from Wards shop by the uni till you reach the town hall...where as I supposed to put my sandwich wrapping?! In the river?!

Seriously tho, that pic indicates that people generally don't want to make a mess, and you will see similar images from an average sunny weekend, why not either have bigger bins with small openings so no household rubbish, or else have someone change the bags?

+1 on days like yesterday and today there is nothing that can be done except get bins and port aloos, alothogh if you do get portaloos it might look like an encouragement to drink there?

LadyMayBelle

Yeah the portaloos aren't the greatest idea, sorta not a lot you can do really. Used to live in one of those apartments overlooking the 'plaza' and used to get randomners knocking on the door looking for use of the loo....

Mrs OBumble

LadyPennyworth wrote: »

Seriously tho, that pic indicates that people generally don't want to make a mess, and you will see similar images from an average sunny weekend, why not either have bigger bins with small openings so no household rubbish, or else have someone change the bags?

Council crews were emptying the bins around 9pm when I walked through.

Suspect it may have been a bit challenging to get the truck in to the plaza safely earlier in the day.

JustMary

JustMary wrote: »

Council crews were emptying the bins around 9pm when I walked through.

Suspect it may have been a bit challenging to get the truck in to the plaza safely earlier in the day.

It had no problem getting up shop street at 4pm.

awhir

lads its called "sparch" ...never heard of Bucky Plaza before and im down there allout :P ... anyway it was fairly wedged down there ! was a good atmosphere

Zzippy

Disgraceful carry on tbh. Where is the good Councillor Michael Crowe when you need him?

Oh Michael.... we need a press release, stat!

bigeasyeah

I passed through town around 5 and headed back in around 10.A bit messy and I saw young lads pricking about outside a retirement home.However there seemed to be a good atmosphere around.Did anyone hear anything about the streetlights being turned off?

Lockstep

Galway needs its own TheCitizen to sort these ruffians out.

Zzippy

Someone beat Michael Crowe to it. He must be devastated!

http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/9865

McNelis condemns loutish behaviour of St Patrick’s Night drinkers
Galway Advertiser, March 19, 2009.

By Kernan Andrews

This year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade was possibly the best ever, but the national day in Galway was spoiled by the drinking, loutish behaviour, vomiting, and littering which took place that night.

This is the view of Labour’s Galway City West candidate Níall McNelis who said the Spanish Arch area was “like a bombsite” after the night’s festivities.

“The amount of litter and empty bottles was unbelievable,” Mr McNelis told the Galway Advertiser. “Many businesses had to spend time this morning cleaning up the vomit and urine from people who had used them as toilets last night.”

He said the events of St Patrick’s Day portrayed the best and worst of the city to tourists.

“The parade was fantastic,” he said. “It was brilliant to see the African community, the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and other groups, which we may not have associated with Galway, come out on our day and really add to the celebrations. It was good to see and it is good for integration.

“On the other hand there was a group of American visitors to the city and I’m wondering what they thought of all the litter and drinking they saw. If they were thinking of investing in Galway, they might think again after witnessing that.”

Mr McNelis said it is essential that in future the gardaí put in place a proper post-parade plan to curb and deal with the public drinking and recklessness that often occurs on St Patrick’s Night.

topper75

So in this country, we have law and order. But not if a large enough crowd decides otherwise? Crazy.

Any cop who is afraid of starting a riot isn't worth his wages. Just give a 15 minute warning over the megaphone to disperse. Then if there is no compliance, move in and remove the alcohol. If anyone gets obstreperous at this point, extendible truncheon swung hard just under kneecap. When they go down, cuffs on and swing em in to back of van. Others who are thinking about cheek at this point usually reconsider.

The binge drinking is way out of control in this country. Some foreigners revel in this 'Irish = get pissed' idea and come here in March for that specific purpose. However, for the majority of foreign visitors, what went on was a disgrace. Ireland is unlikely to pull off any great sporting or industrial coups in the next 20 years judging by the 'craic' at the Spanish arch.

Wasters and proud of it. Lurching from one piss-up to another. No reality please. We're Irish. We're great fun.

Xiney

:rolleyes:

Zzippy

topper75 wrote: »

So in this country, we have law and order. But not if a large enough crowd decides otherwise? Crazy.

Any cop who is afraid of starting a riot isn't worth his wages. Just give a 15 minute warning over the megaphone to disperse. Then if there is no compliance, move in and remove the alcohol. If anyone gets obstreperous at this point, extendible truncheon swung hard just under kneecap. When they go down, cuffs on and swing em in to back of van. Others who are thinking about cheek at this point usually reconsider.

The binge drinking is way out of control in this country. Some foreigners revel in this 'Irish = get pissed' idea and come here in March for that specific purpose. However, for the majority of foreign visitors, what went on was a disgrace. Ireland is unlikely to pull off any great sporting or industrial coups in the next 20 years judging by the 'craic' at the Spanish arch.

Wasters and proud of it. Lurching from one piss-up to another. No reality please. We're Irish. We're great fun.

Good man yourself. Why don't you ring Joe?

No one was hurt. There were no fights. If the council had provided bins there would have been no litter. What's your problem?

Fun police... :rolleyes:

topper75

topper75 wrote: »

So in this country, we have law and order. But not if a large enough crowd decides otherwise? Crazy.

Any cop who is afraid of starting a riot isn't worth his wages. Just give a 15 minute warning over the megaphone to disperse. Then if there is no compliance, move in and remove the alcohol. If anyone gets obstreperous at this point, extendible truncheon swung hard just under kneecap. When they go down, cuffs on and swing em in to back of van. Others who are thinking about cheek at this point usually reconsider.

The binge drinking is way out of control in this country. Some foreigners revel in this 'Irish = get pissed' idea and come here in March for that specific purpose. However, for the majority of foreign visitors, what went on was a disgrace. Ireland is unlikely to pull off any great sporting or industrial coups in the next 20 years judging by the 'craic' at the Spanish arch.

Wasters and proud of it. Lurching from one piss-up to another. No reality please. We're Irish. We're great fun.

It would be a sad day for this country if you ever get any authority in the real world! luckily people with such pointless nanny state opinions rarely do.

Zzippy

Roland Raspy Plantain wrote: »

It would be a sad day for this country if you ever get any authority in the real world! luckily people with such pointless nanny state opinions rarely do.

Um... Michael McDowell?

bigeasyeah

any copper who is afraid to start a riot isnt worth his wages-topper75.
any copper that does this isnt worth his job and will get fired.

topper75

topper75 wrote: »

So in this country, we have law and order. But not if a large enough crowd decides otherwise? Crazy.

Any cop who is afraid of starting a riot isn't worth his wages. Just give a 15 minute warning over the megaphone to disperse. Then if there is no compliance, move in and remove the alcohol. If anyone gets obstreperous at this point, extendible truncheon swung hard just under kneecap. When they go down, cuffs on and swing em in to back of van. Others who are thinking about cheek at this point usually reconsider.

The binge drinking is way out of control in this country. Some foreigners revel in this 'Irish = get pissed' idea and come here in March for that specific purpose. However, for the majority of foreign visitors, what went on was a disgrace. Ireland is unlikely to pull off any great sporting or industrial coups in the next 20 years judging by the 'craic' at the Spanish arch.

Wasters and proud of it. Lurching from one piss-up to another. No reality please. We're Irish. We're great fun.

getting legless on St Patricks Day in Bucky Plaza is tradition now.

It has replaced mass as the days entertainment.

Try it , you may enjoy it

topper75

Thanks for all the efforts to re-educate me - I'll just recap on what I've learned from the thread today:

-Cops shouldn't enforce the law provided enough people break it at the same time. To do so would be precipitating a riot, which is ultimately the copper's fault.

-Laws against drinking outdoors are created and implemented for no other reason than to stop people having fun. There was no other logical reason for these laws.

-It's the city council's obligation to facilitate mass illegal outdoor pissups. Toilets should also be provided for the drinkers.

- Illegal outdoor pissups are good fun. They are an expression of a healthy culture and society. Vomit, litter, and destruction of property are a small price to pay (anyway - it is other people who are paying them!)

- People who lament the lack of law and order are right wing fanatics and wish only to have power over others, and if possible - spoil their fun.

Go back to your lectures and tutorials lads, and leave worrying about who gets into power to me.

topper75

topper75 wrote: »

Thanks for all the efforts to re-educate me - I'll just recap on what I've learned from the thread today:

-Cops shouldn't enforce the law provided enough people break it at the same time. To do so would be precipitating a riot, which is ultimately the copper's fault.

-Laws against drinking outdoors are created and implemented for no other reason than to stop people having fun. There was no other logical reason for these laws.

-It's the city council's obligation to facilitate mass illegal outdoor pissups. Toilets should also be provided for the drinkers.

- Illegal outdoor pissups are good fun. They are an expression of a healthy culture and society. Vomit, litter, and destruction of property are a small price to pay (anyway - it is other people who are paying them!)

- People who lament the lack of law and order are right wing fanatics and wish only to have power over others, and if possible - spoil their fun.

Go back to your lectures and tutorials lads, and leave worrying about who gets into power to me.

I didn't see anybody vomit while I was there or cause destruction of property.Any links or pictures to prove this or are you talking out of your ass?

topper75

rarnes1 wrote: »

Try it , you may enjoy it

Rarnes, I feel obliged to address your invitation to try it out. I drink myself. I am in no way anti-drink. I had 3 beers with friends in a pub in Galway - with the day that was in it - wet the shamrock and all.

I had fun and didn't act the fool. I didn't annoy anyone and didn't vomit on any shop shutters. I didn't throw any digs at someone who looked at me wrong and felt no obligation to chuck my supermac's rubbish onto the road. I didn't intimidate anyone or play chicken on the footpath against sober passersby.

However, the 'go for broke' how much can you drink approach is a whole different thing. It's not just a Paddy's day thing in Galway. Weekend after weekend, it is the same parade of assholes up and down the pedestrian thoroughfares, shouting and acting the fool, desperate for someone to look over and see what great craic they are. Daytrippers, stags, hens, Morons Inc. Drowning the unbearable thoughts of their pointless lives in a tidal wave of beer and shots.

Rag week, Paddy's, Race week etc. etc. The moron's Mecca.

Is it 21st century Ireland's ugly lot to endure this ad infinitum?

biko

topper75 wrote: »

Thanks for all the efforts to re-educate me - I'll just recap on what I've learned from the thread today:

-Cops shouldn't enforce the law provided enough people break it at the same time. To do so would be precipitating a riot, which is ultimately the copper's fault.

-Laws against drinking outdoors are created and implemented for no other reason than to stop people having fun. There was no other logical reason for these laws.

-It's the city council's obligation to facilitate mass illegal outdoor pissups. Toilets should also be provided for the drinkers.

- Illegal outdoor pissups are good fun. They are an expression of a healthy culture and society. Vomit, litter, and destruction of property are a small price to pay (anyway - it is other people who are paying them!)

- People who lament the lack of law and order are right wing fanatics and wish only to have power over others, and if possible - spoil their fun.

Go back to your lectures and tutorials lads, and leave worrying about who gets into power to me.

I got a good laugh out of this one although I don't agree with everything that's pretty much nailing this thread.

Zzippy

topper75 wrote: »

Thanks for all the efforts to re-educate me - I'll just recap on what I've learned from the thread today:

-Cops shouldn't enforce the law provided enough people break it at the same time. To do so would be precipitating a riot, which is ultimately the copper's fault.

-Laws against drinking outdoors are created and implemented for no other reason than to stop people having fun. There was no other logical reason for these laws.

-It's the city council's obligation to facilitate mass illegal outdoor pissups. Toilets should also be provided for the drinkers.

- Illegal outdoor pissups are good fun. They are an expression of a healthy culture and society. Vomit, litter, and destruction of property are a small price to pay (anyway - it is other people who are paying them!)

- People who lament the lack of law and order are right wing fanatics and wish only to have power over others, and if possible - spoil their fun.

Go back to your lectures and tutorials lads, and leave worrying about who gets into power to me.

Lol. Lectures and tutorials eh, god I wish I was a student again alright...
As for letting you worry about who gets into power, well thank God we all get a vote, wouldn't like to live in a country where only you decided :rolleyes:

pseudonym1

topper75 wrote: »

Rarnes, I feel obliged to address your invitation to try it out. I drink myself. I am in no way anti-drink. I had 3 beers with friends in a pub in Galway - with the day that was in it - wet the shamrock and all.

I had fun and didn't act the fool. I didn't annoy anyone and didn't vomit on any shop shutters. I didn't throw any digs at someone who looked at me wrong and felt no obligation to chuck my supermac's rubbish onto the road. I didn't intimidate anyone or play chicken on the footpath against sober passersby.

However, the 'go for broke' how much can you drink approach is a whole different thing. It's not just a Paddy's day thing in Galway. Weekend after weekend, it is the same parade of assholes up and down the pedestrian thoroughfares, shouting and acting the fool, desperate for someone to look over and see what great craic they are. Daytrippers, stags, hens, Morons Inc. Drowning the unbearable thoughts of their pointless lives in a tidal wave of beer and shots.

Rag week, Paddy's, Race week etc. etc. The moron's Mecca.

Is it 21st century Ireland's ugly lot to endure this ad infinitum?

Kinda have a piont.
Dare I say it boils down to age and or maturity though.

Fionn MacCool

topper75 wrote: »

So in this country, we have law and order. But not if a large enough crowd decides otherwise? Crazy.

Any cop who is afraid of starting a riot isn't worth his wages. Just give a 15 minute warning over the megaphone to disperse. Then if there is no compliance, move in and remove the alcohol. If anyone gets obstreperous at this point, extendible truncheon swung hard just under kneecap. When they go down, cuffs on and swing em in to back of van. Others who are thinking about cheek at this point usually reconsider.

I sincerely hope you become a Gard, and get your head kicked in by a decent sized group you little fascist wretch. A.C.A.B.

Ireland is unlikely to pull off any great sporting or industrial coups in the next 20 years judging by the 'craic' at the Spanish arch.

Landsdowne Rd is hosting next year's UEFA (Europa) Cup Final. Do a bit of research before making yourself look a numpty. Although judging by the rest of your post, you've a lot to work on.