Rag week

Utopia Parkway

What's the story with it this year? Seems a bit quiet today compared to the Monday last year when it was like the battle of Fallujah around town. Is it safe to go out or is the mentalness still on the way?

leninbenjamin

The bridge is on fire. Or well the scrub underneath it was a wee while ago.

KevR

There was a big crowd on the bridge this morning, I presume they were drinking. Gaurds came and made them leave.

I don't see the attraction of drinking on or under the bridge. I'm a student and if it was the last location on earth that I could have a drink in, I still wouldn't be caught dead drinking on or under the Quincentennial Bridge.

Captain Darling

Is it the NUI rag week this week? does that mean it was the GMIT one there a few weeks ago. There seems to be alot of people toting around cans today alright and there was a big crowd around that diddly aye pub at the end of shop street (cant remember the name of if).

bigeasyeah

RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!
I love Rag Week.

CONSTERNATION! UPROAR!
I hate Rag Week.

Captain Darling

bigeasyeah wrote: »

RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!
I love Rag Week.

CONSTERNATION! UPROAR!
I hate Rag Week.

<insert quote from concerned resident>

<insert quote from outraged public representative>

Das Kitty

Plenty of variously rowdy and sheepish students in Tesco this morning buying or attempting to buy booze. One particularly young looking well dressed wee girl queuing with 8 cans of Strongbow. The incongruity made me LOL.

Captain Darling

Das Kitty wrote: »

Plenty of variously rowdy and sheepish students in Tesco this morning buying or attempting to buy booze. One particularly young looking well dressed wee girl queuing with 8 cans of Strongbow. The incongruity made me LOL.

Incongruity always makes me lol. :P

skelliser

drinking under the bridge? whats the point of that? and in the morning!

fend

"Monday Drinkin Under the Bridge" was one of those events that was posted on facebook.... Last night it had 3400 people RSVP'd as attending.... Was half tempted to just drive by and see how many ACTUALLY went.

As for it being quiet? All the clubs have canceled their day events like the foam parties etc... Hang on til around 7pm and then say it's quiet... I think you might change your statement then :P

Or you could always hang around til 1//2am in Eyre Square.... Busier than 5pm on Christmas Eve.

skelliser

thats ridiculous! im all for having the craic and lord knows i did when i was a student and did rag weeks but thats gone beyond rag week, in fact its pretty pathetic

cranky bollix

there are large crowds the whole way up dangan pitches doin their thing which is fine by me.they should try keep it to the college grounds and let them run loose

fend

Some rave on in Dangan later I think...

I think canceling the day gigs around town was pointless... So there would be a few more people around town? Isn't it better than having a load of drunken students acting the maggot under a bridge by water?
Or having a couple hundred people making a mess in a number of fields which will never get cleaned up?

Stick everyone in the same spot is what I say...
You wouldn't let a whole bunch of babies run riot around knocknacarra.... You'd keep them all in the creche where you can see em!

jd007

fend wrote: »

Stick everyone in the same spot is what I say...
You wouldn't let a whole bunch of babies run riot around knocknacarra.... You'd keep them all in the creche where you can see em!

Don't tell what I wouldn't do!!:mad::pac:

ronnie3585

skelliser wrote: »

drinking under the bridge? whats the point of that? and in the morning!

Bit of a tradition, the ole Monday morning drinking under the bridge.

Would love to be partaking in the rag week festivities again - I hate growing up!

Bob_Harris

Captain Darling wrote: »

Incongruity always makes me lol. :P

Googles incongruity, resulting definition: Lack of congruence

Googles congruence.

kippy

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

What's the story with it this year? Seems a bit quiet today compared to the Monday last year when it was like the battle of Fallujah around town. Is it safe to go out or is the mentalness still on the way?

I dunno, Clemon mustn't have gotten into first gear yet, probably sleeping off a hangover......
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055847426

Col200sx

I've just caught about 6 rag week students pissing around and up against my car, while it was parked in a private business in the middle of town.

And the worst thing was, 2 of them were women doing it. Fcuking scumbags.

I fcuking hate rag week and everything to do with it:mad:

kippy

Col200sx wrote: »

I've just caught about 6 rag week students pissing around and up against my car, while it was parked in a private business in the middle of town.

And the worst thing was, 2 of them were women doing it. Fcuking scumbags.

I fcuking hate rag week and everything to do with it:mad:

Pics or it didn't happen..............

Little My

Did students set fire to Westside sports pitch (the scrubby hilly bit) or was this some other inspired bright sparks? (I like the pun )

LadyMayBelle

I posted earlier in the NUIG forum about how I hate rag week..corrib village was full of tools running around in red stetsons and shirtless lads

I enjoyed it when I was in college, to a degree (were allowed to drink outside the Baily Allen Hall which was nice and summery)...went to gigs, a stupid beach party in some pub, but I don't think overall people were as thick as they are these day...pissing against a car? FFS.

brianthebard

Little My wrote: »

Did students set fire to Westside sports pitch (the scrubby hilly bit) or was this some other inspired bright sparks? (I like the pun )

One of the neighbours was having a bonfire earlier, which was unconnected to rag week, I'd say some people are just taking advantage of the good weather to clear up a bit. Although saying that doesn't mean there won't be some rag week inspired fires too....

Columc

The canceling of day night clubs was the best thing to happen so far. It gets students really away from the center of town. Now its really down to the Student Union to really get students to stay on campus. Organisation fo good events, concerts and other activites. Even organinsing things away from the town center.

The NUIG student union is the main people that can create or break a good RAG week to the public and the students. if they organise it properly then you will have a lot less trouble in and around the town area. If not, it could end up being the hell hole galway was last year.

That being said, there are the odd students and hell i heard of students coming down from UL, UCC and DCU for galway rag week as it is appertly legendary. So with students from other colleges coming down to act the maggot the law force needs to be peltyful and strict around town.

So really i think a RAG week that can both students have fun and the public not to distress with damages is down to a few people.

Student Union
Gardai
Publicans not seeing €€€ instead of students and actualy rejecting them when they have to much

Also not having both colleges in Galway(NUIG/GMIT) having their rag week at the same time.

I am a student myself, but i think the students go over board during rag week and act like complete idiotic eejits that have no respect to anyone.

Das Kitty

LadyPennyworth wrote: »

I don't think overall people were as thick as they are these day...pissing against a car? FFS.

I think my day and yours were the same. When I was in final year I got a lift from my Mam who picked me up at the Garryowen house entrance and a pisshead jumped out in front of the car, started banging on the bonnet, then leapt up on it, whipped out his mickey and christened the windscreen. Mam accidentally on purpose let the clutch hop up jolting the car and knocking him off.

We called the guards.

brembo26

Columc wrote: »

Also not having both colleges in Galway(NUIG/GMIT) having their rag week at the same time.

GMIT had there one on the week before last and it was generally quiet. Its the NUIG one that causes all the hassle afaic...

WesternNight

Columc wrote: »

So really i think a RAG week that can both students have fun and the public not to distress with damages is down to a few people.

Student Union
Gardai
Publicans not seeing €€€ instead of students and actualy rejecting them when they have to much

I like how you've absolved students of any responsibility here. It's down to students to cop the f*ck on to be honest.

inisboffin

Col200sx wrote: »

I've just caught about 6 rag week students pissing around and up against my car, while it was parked in a private business in the middle of town.

And the worst thing was, 2 of them were women doing it. Fcuking scumbags.

:

Oh that's right! I forgot that female wee has +700% acidity than male wee, and can corrode automobile metal. How awful!:rolleyes:

LadyMayBelle

Das Kitty wrote: »

I think my day and yours were the same. When I was in final year I got a lift from my Mam who picked me up at the Garryowen house entrance and a pisshead jumped out in front of the car, started banging on the bonnet, then leapt up on it, whipped out his mickey and christened the windscreen. Mam accidentally on purpose let the clutch hop up jolting the car and knocking him off.

We called the guards.

That's ridiculous. Is Rag week a licence for this sort of thick behaviour? I know a friend's dad used to do hackneys and i remember one rag week night he picked us up...it was like a scene from a horror movie with drunk students mauling the car and climbing on the bonnet in Eyre Square..

WesternNight

LadyPennyworth wrote: »

That's ridiculous. Is Rag week a licence for this sort of thick behaviour?

That's just it. It is. Everyone has come to expect it. What incentive do they have to not go completely mad? The way I hear some people talk about it, it's like it's the only reason they come to college at all, it definitely isn't to learn anything academic anyway.

Amhran Nua

WesternNight wrote: »

That's just it. It is. Everyone has come to expect it. What incentive do they have to not go completely mad? The way I hear some people talk about it, it's like it's the only reason they come to college at all, it definitely isn't to learn anything academic anyway.

Well, if this is the effect of the Celtic tiger on the youth of the nation, they are in for some landing when they graduate.

unJustMary

Town was pretty mad and messy last night, with not a guard in sight (where I was anyway)

A special prize to the young woman who tottered down Abbeygate St and into Middle St before dropping her kickers and attempting to squat and pee. Unfortunately she was so far gone that she couldn't even manage to stand for the act. Pure class. I'm sure she'll go far.

We considered taking pics, but decided she wasn't worth the energy.

Rag week makes me want to go back to college, get an advanced degree and become an academic, just so I could and set compulsory labs and assignments for this week, and terms test for next week.

KevR

LadyPennyworth wrote: »

That's ridiculous. Is Rag week a licence for this sort of thick behaviour? I know a friend's dad used to do hackneys and i remember one rag week night he picked us up...it was like a scene from a horror movie with drunk students mauling the car and climbing on the bonnet in Eyre Square..

Rag week is basically a week of opportunity for the biggest attention seeking spoiled students to do what they do best - seek attention and act like twats. It's a competition to see who can be the most outrageous, they all want everyone talking about them.

Rag could be a good week for everyone to enjoy but there is a number of total mongs who ruin it in my opinion.

LadyMayBelle

KevR wrote: »

Rag could be a good week for everyone to enjoy but there is a number of total mongs who ruin it in my opinion.

Couldn't agree more.

jd007

unJustMary wrote: »

We considered taking pics, but decided she wasn't worth the energy.

For shame!

Utopia Parkway

I used to love rag week when I was in college and we'd get sloshed like anyone else but we certainly never caused any trouble. It just seems more aggressive these days. We're right in town and our doorbell went earlier this evening and my flatmate answered it and there was 7 or 8 drunk young fellas there looking to come in. Obviously the flatmate told them that they had the wrong house so he went to close the door and one of them gave an almighty boot to the door as he was closing it. He said he would have loved to have clattered him but with a gang of them there he just shut the door on them. I have the car parked outside all night and I have visions of students dancing on the bonnet later tonight. Last year during rag week I came down one morning to find footprints all over my car.

Columc

WesternNight wrote: »

I like how you've absolved students of any responsibility here. It's down to students to cop the f*ck on to be honest

I also like how you didnt put in the end of my post

ColumC wrote:

I am a student myself, but i think the students go over board during rag week and act like complete idiotic eejits that have no respect to anyone.

-jellybelly-

see they have this parked on eyre square http://www.vasvinyl.co.uk/files/GardaCameraVan.JPG didnt need it fot gmit!

skelliser

ronnie3585 wrote: »

Bit of a tradition, the ole Monday morning drinking under the bridge.

there was never a tradition of drinkin under the bridge on monday morning not unless traditions are 2 years in a row!

Respect is the word thats missing here, we got shtifaced all thru rag week but never caused trouble or interfered with residents or property in our area.

I saw that van in eyre square when i drove thru town earlier, pretty busy with alot of victims stumbling around!

siltirocker

-jellybelly- wrote: »

see they have this parked on eyre square http://www.vasvinyl.co.uk/files/GardaCameraVan.JPG didnt need it fot gmit!

It was in Eyre Square (on many occasions) and Spanish Arch during GMIT's RAG week.

I find a lot of NUI Galway trashing and a lot of GMIT halos going around on this subject and i honestly find that to be BS. As someone who studied in both, i found Murrough, Glasan, Merlin to be in much worse states of ASB than Newcastle, Rahoon, Claddagh or Woodquay during RAG week. Classes being interupted, the salmon on the weir being messed with, the swashtika on the hooker, the road signs in renmore disappearing, the death in glasan, bodkins getting thrashed, etc all on GMIT's week/GMIT students. Granted NUIG did have that River Inn incident with the Leitrim lads, Corrib Village in general and the loitering around the canal, catherderal, etc every ****in' year.

The fact that NUIG students tend to do GMIT's RAG week might have something to do with it or NUIG's 18,000 students. I also think GMIT's SU should really try get some activities going on that week that strech past an Iron stomach or something in the libary bar, etc.

Well at least it's not as bad as Sligo, which is essentially the nearest thing this country has to a weekend in Vegas.

Just my 2cs.

skelliser

i was in town everynight during gmit's rag week and never once saw that garda van. afaik there was 3 arrests during that week also.
we will see what happens this week

randylonghorn

Well, I've only seen one (mild) bit of hassle so far this year, and that turned out to be a couple of local GTI lads, not NUIG or indeed GMIT at all.

And that's often the way, locals and indeed complete visitors letting loose because they know the college students will get the blame.

I'm not suggesting that all college students are angels, there's a minority that need a shoe inserted where they sit, but the majority are fine and no worse than we were at that age.

To blame all 18.000 college NUIG students for the stupidities of a few eeejits (and diverse hangers-on) is like extrapolating from one woman driver backing into a wall that all women drivers are sh1t ... and I well know how bruised and battered my (metaphorical) nads would be if I dared to make any such accusation on this site!!

siltirocker

skelliser wrote: »

i was in town everynight during gmit's rag week and never once saw that garda van. afaik there was 3 arrests during that week also.
we will see what happens this week

As it was definitely in Eyre Square for an hour or two on Wednesday. I was n Richardson's myself. Saw it early enough on Thursday evening there too in Eyre Square and Spanish Arch.

I think GMIT rag week was exceptionally well behaved this year. That being said i thought it was quite tame, the number out during the week and stuff.

Wompa1

I went to GMIT and lived beside and with NUIG students. From going to GMIT it seemed most people I knew would only go out for 1 or 2 nights during Rag Week. I tended to have an assessment exam plonked some day during the week and I know alot of others had the same. Also anyone on a grant needed to keep up attendance as it was being monitored there.

For NUIG it seems people take pride in how drunk they are when going in for mandatory labs during the week. Rag Week didn't seem too bad until about 3 or 4 years ago. Something has changed. Last year and the year before in particular were disgraceful. GMIT students are bad, NUIG are terrible and then stick them together for a few years and you get the perfect storm of scum.

Starie1975

Just a little note. Coming home from work yesterday in my banger of a car. Drove over the Quincentenary Bridge @ 15:55 and I stopped to let a few lads cross the road as the traffic was building up about 500 yards from the lights. I take a left at the filling station and down Newcastle. The boys were drinking cans and that’s when I copped that it was rag week, the memories came flooding back of days gone by when I could be pissed at 4 o'clock in the day of a Monday and not give a rats ass.

Then it got nasty, some of the other lads who'd crossed the road started drowning rocks at cars (don't ask of photos - this story is a fact). I was fuming. My car, my little fecking banger , which I paid with my hard earned, 2% income levy, PRSI, half eating by tax wages coming under attack. I had a mental image (like the Monk in mean machine) reaching for my 5 wood which was in the back seat the running over to the **see-you-next-Tuesdays** and flaking seven colors of ****e outta them, but I didn't. The cars behind me also got hit. One driver got out but he was given the fingers by two of the Muppets. Laughing and roaring.

The lights turned green and we were off again. My banger is alight, no damage done but that’s not the point. What the feck is the point at drowning stones at cars? I just don't get it dudes.

Wompa1

Starie1975 wrote: »

Just a little note. Coming home from work yesterday in my banger of a car. Drove over the Quincentenary Bridge @ 15:55 and I stopped to let a few lads cross the road as the traffic was building up about 500 yards from the lights. I take a left at the filling station and down Newcastle. The boys were drinking cans and that’s when I copped that it was rag week, the memories came flooding back of days gone by when I could be pissed at 4 o'clock in the day of a Monday and not give a rats ass.

Then it got nasty, some of the other lads who'd crossed the road started drowning rocks at cars (don't ask of photos - this story is a fact). I was fuming. My car, my little fecking banger , which I paid with my hard earned, 2% income levy, PRSI, half eating by tax wages coming under attack. I had a mental image (like the Monk in mean machine) reaching for my 5 wood which was in the back seat the running over to the **see-you-next-Tuesdays** and flaking seven colors of ****e outta them, but I didn't. The cars behind me also got hit. One driver got out but he was given the fingers by two of the Muppets. Laughing and roaring.

The lights turned green and we were off again. My banger is alight, no damage done but that’s not the point. What the feck is the point at drowning stones at cars? I just don't get it dudes.

People needed to pull up and kick the crap out them. Tis the only way they'll learn....and hurt

TristanPeter

If they damaged my car I'd send the bill to the Student's Union and I'd report it to the gardai. Pity you didn't get a photo of them. I'm going to have my phone camera ready to go if I happen to be anywhere near NUIG/town.

It's amazing that for a "charity event" it's costing the tax-payer €10,000 a day in garda resources...and that's just for the relatively tame GMIT edition

http://www.galwaynews.ie/11434-rag-week-costing-%E2%82%AC10000-day-additional-garda%C3%AD

I'd love to know how much funds they raise relative to what tax-payers are forking out...for the pleasure of having rocks thrown at cars. I had great fun during my rag weeks but they were held on campus and one could drink anywhere on the NUIG grounds. That encouraged us to stay put.

snubbleste

There was a nice big fire on the little mound which is covered in weeds and some gorse in Westside Park near the Camilaun Park end when i was whizzing past aroud 2000 last night.
Maybe it was sparked by the dry weather we had recently or is it the week that is in it Anyway the fire brigade were out tackling it.

m83

snubbleste wrote: »

There was a nice big fire on the little mound which is covered in weeds and some gorse in Westside Park near the Camilaun Park end when i was whizzing past aroud 2000 last night.
Maybe it was sparked by the dry weather we had recently or is it the week that is in it Anyway the fire brigade were out tackling it.

Bandwagon much?

Captain Darling

Got a knock on the door around 10.15 last night with pissed ejits looking for a party, told them to go a few doors down where there was a student house, two minutes later they were back at the door hammering away because they couldnt find the house.

I didnt mind, but my girlfriend was a bit put out. I didnt really like the carry on of them, particularly if they called and if she was on her own, or if they went around disturbing old people at this time of the night. We live up on Prospect Hill and they knocked on every bloody door along the street.

I've defended the students in the past, but i thought they'd have a bit more sense then that.

brainyneuron

Starie1975 wrote: »

Just a little note. Coming home from work yesterday in my banger of a car. Drove over the Quincentenary Bridge @ 15:55 and I stopped to let a few lads cross the road as the traffic was building up about 500 yards from the lights. I take a left at the filling station and down Newcastle. The boys were drinking cans and that’s when I copped that it was rag week, the memories came flooding back of days gone by when I could be pissed at 4 o'clock in the day of a Monday and not give a rats ass.

Then it got nasty, some of the other lads who'd crossed the road started drowning rocks at cars (don't ask of photos - this story is a fact). I was fuming. My car, my little fecking banger , which I paid with my hard earned, 2% income levy, PRSI, half eating by tax wages coming under attack. I had a mental image (like the Monk in mean machine) reaching for my 5 wood which was in the back seat the running over to the **see-you-next-Tuesdays** and flaking seven colors of ****e outta them, but I didn't. The cars behind me also got hit. One driver got out but he was given the fingers by two of the Muppets. Laughing and roaring.

The lights turned green and we were off again. My banger is alight, no damage done but that’s not the point. What the feck is the point at drowning stones at cars? I just don't get it dudes.

Passed there about half 2 yesterday (heading to Knocknacarra direction from magic roundabout). The bridge was busy enough with students walking to/from college. Was stopped in traffic opposite the part of the bridge with the steps down to the road below. Three or four girls in white overalls covered in paint (i think) were running up and down the stairs and messing about with a shopping trolley. :rolleyes:

slave2thewage

I live with students. I'm practically relocating to my mates for the week.

Their mates broke the front door last night...