Race Week Yay or Nay

AnFearDorcha

Hi all.

I've been living in Galway for four years now but this week has been my first proper encounter with the races.

Today, in the space of 40mins walking through town, I witnessed a shoplifting, three full on fights, dozens of miserable couples, was accosted four times by drunk strangers and saw a man try to fight a tree in Eyre Square.

He seemed to be losing.

What I'm asking is, am I in the minority in hating the Galway Races? Because I thought rag week was bad but never feared for my safety the way I did today.

And why does everyone complain about rag week (supermacs "riot" aside) but love the races?

What do ye think of it?

hamsterboy

****in hate the races. Brings a awful breed of scum to the place. Usually avoid town this time of year. Actually live a stones throw from the racecourse so I'm bunkered down here with a PS3 and loads of alcohol

inisboffin

Same discussion happens every year. Some love it and have an honestly good time out at the racecourse and it's great craic. But walking through town and the amount of grief being doled out is disproportionate to any craic imo.

Give me the arts festival/fringe/fleadh/bag of rocks instead any day.

Seaneh

Just don't cross the bridge...
The Bridge is magic, all the gob****es tend to stay on the eastern side of it.

General rule of thumb for Galway:
West is best. Never cross the bridge.

thesandeman

You're lucky you weren't around a few years ago before the plastic glasses came in.
I've said said it before, I hate the things normally but those plastics are the best thing that ever happened in town for Race Week.

Missyelliot2

Lived in Galway all my life and make a point to being out of the place during the races. For me, it all started during the BS Celtic tiger rubbish - am sure you have discussed all this.

But, (in my opinion, for what it's worth), the races have lost a lot of the fun - it was always a family occasion, but not any more. Dodging between bottles and P€&?ed women in heels ain't fun!

So, OP, a huge NAY, (with an apology for the rant!)

ted2767

Agree 100% have lived in Galway 8 years and absolutely love the place (bit hard to stay on straight and narrow though).
But I HATE race week.
Pissed groups of lads all over the shop,
Hassle,rubbish can't go into town at night and as for ladies night don't get me started.

El_Dangeroso

Seaneh wrote: »

Just don't cross the bridge...
The Bridge is magic, all the gob****es tend to stay on the eastern side of it.

General rule of thumb for Galway:
West is best. Never cross the bridge.

Absolutely, was down in Massimo's for a bite to eat yesterday and it was very civilised. I don't know what we'll do if the tourists ever discover the west..

ArtyC

Before the plastics it was very bad!! I always ended up with glass in my feet -- that went through my shoes!
I think it used to be better-- now it's bring a bottle of vodka to shop street week and I don't enjoy it anymore... Few pints and banter- great- legless groups roaring and shouting in people's faces, puking and piddling on the street I don't care for. I went home with my bottles of beer after work and chilled out. Roll on Monday... Silence and free seats in pubs

pleasant Co.

It's a YAY for race week from me, just wish the crowd it drew were more of the volvo ocean race ilk, soz current crowd ilk.

joeKel73

I enjoy a day out at the track but generally avoid the city center.

Some locals enjoy it:

Diabhal Beag

There's a good reason why a lot of Galwegians go on holidays for Race Week. I didn't venture past Dominick St yesterday but even walking to Salthill there were a few scraps and teens vomiting everywhere. The bad weather didn't even seem to deter the bushing, which warmed my heart to see such dedication from the 14 year old's of Galway.

I always feel awful for staff working in pubs for Race Week. The amount of abuse they get is unreal. Supermacs is probably twice as bad.

snubbleste

That poor woman..

inisboffin

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Absolutely, was down in Massimo's for a bite to eat yesterday and it was very civilised. I don't know what we'll do if the tourists ever discover the west..

Ditto. Although there was a small stream of racers around the West that must have been dropped in via helicopter or snuck across! Still, nothing like the other side.

Eeden

Also dislike race week. It really attracts a sleazy element. I'm usually out of town for it, but didn't manage to get away this year.

Redhairedguy

Big nay from me. I was working all this week so far, so I haven't (thankfully) had any negative encounters this year. First day off today, and I'm sitting in terminal 1 of Dublin Airport about to get the frak outta here for the weekend!

I worked the races for a number of years, so all the glam and glitz washed off about 7 years ago. It's pretty much people in cheap suits and sunglasses thinking that because they're dressed 'fancy', it gives them the right to act like arséholes. :pac:

James Forde

Redhairedguy wrote: »

I worked the races for a number of years, so all the glam and glitz washed off about 7 years ago. It's pretty much people in cheap suits and sunglasses thinking that because they're dressed 'fancy', it gives them the right to act like arséholes. :pac:

This is the perfect description of race week.

ScumLord

hamsterboy wrote: »

Actually live a stones throw from the racecourse so I'm bunkered down here with a PS3 and loads of alcohol

Back in my day it was a high powered rifle, kids today and they're playboxes, shot them with real guns!

El_Dangeroso

Shouldn't the title be Yay or Neigh?

I'll get me coat.

Wompa1

Yay for the increased foot fall, Nay for the fact it's mostly gob****es. If you live within 20 miles of the city, it impacts you. When I lived outside the city, it always meant houses getting broken into. When I lived in the city, it meant putting up with drunken a-holes acting like entitled d1cks.

As for the RAG week comparison. I dislike both RAG week and Race week, though I've witness much more criminal damage from RAG week. Race week seems better policed, also.

AnFearDorcha

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Shouldn't the title be Yay or Neigh?

I'll get me coat.

:cool:

I tend to stay away from town as much as possible during race week. Had to head in on Monday and between the Bohermore post office and Eyre square I passed three separate groups of people who were so drunk that standing up was impossible. This was at 2 in the afternoon and was far from an isolated incident.

I could forgive the drunk idiots and the pools of vomit if it weren't for the fact that places jack up the prices the week before the races. Out in Massimos last Saturday and a bottle of beer was €5.10. An absolute rip off if there ever was one and one of the reasons I have no sympathy for pubs that close down.

Ludikrus

HATE race week. Sh*te horse racing and drunk fools falling around in their confirmation suits. I've loaded the car with food & booze and heading for a mobile home in Kerry. Call me when they're all gone.

Seaneh

Deleted User wrote: »

Out in Massimos last Saturday and a bottle of beer was €5.10. An absolute rip off if there ever was one and one of the reasons I have no sympathy for pubs that close down.

What beer was it?

I haven't noticed their prices being any different than the last few months... 5am Saint, Hooker, Hooker Stout and the few others I'd drink are all the same price...

Seaneh

Seaneh wrote: »

What beer was it?

I haven't noticed their prices being any different than the last few months... 5am Saint, Hooker, Hooker Stout and the few others I'd drink are all the same price...

Was a bottle of Corona. Noticed in a few places that a beer was more expensive, maybe it's just me but a pint last weekend was a minimum of €4.80 to €5.00 and bottles were around the same and more in some places. I have no problem paying €6.00 for a bottle of something interesting in the Salthouse but €4.80 for Coors is ridicolous and €5.10 for a 330ml bottle of Corona is robbery

pleasant Co.

That's actually the price they charge for a bottle of corona, I was caught out by that one a few weeks ago after I'd moved off the heavier more [usually] expensive beers.

pleasant Co.

pleasant Co. wrote: »

That's actually the price they charge for a bottle of corona, I was caught out by that one a few weeks ago after I'd moved off the heavier more [usually] expensive beers.

It wasn't just Corona at that price. One order we got was for a bottle of Corona and a bottle of Bud and that came to 10.20. I didn't notice the cost of the first few bottles as there were Vodka and Red Bull and a few other things in the round but when we got the two bottles and I questioned the barman I found out just how costly a bottle was.

Is it any wonder that so many pubs are in trouble, rather than try and keep customers they alienate them with their ridiculous prices. Massimo must be making a fortune on a bottle of Corona, I doubt they pay much more than a euro a bottle and while some will say that the cost of that bottle has to pay for wages, lighting, rent etc it's still a rip off.

Seaneh

in fairness, people who drink muck like Bud and Corona deserve to be ripped off for drinking fizzzy yellow water :pac:.


But yeah, that's just the price of their bottles, they haven't put the prices up.

dilallio

:eek::eek::eek: Nay :eek::eek::eek:

inisboffin

dilallio wrote: »

:eek::eek::eek: Nay :eek::eek::eek:

That's actually kinda cool and creative!

At least it's not a conformation suit, or what looks like a sprayed on lucky bag on stilts! LOL!

hairyfairy00

Utter Gobsh!tes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMXMgpebNsE

AnFearDorcha

hairyfairy00 wrote: »

Utter Gobsh!tes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMXMgpebNsE

Absolute scumbags...

SolarFlash

It's insufferable I picked the worst week to move to Galway.

El_Dangeroso

hairyfairy00 wrote: »

Utter Gobsh!tes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMXMgpebNsE

And to add insult to injury, vertical video ugh.

Seaneh

Seaneh wrote: »

in fairness, people who drink muck like Bud and Corona deserve to be ripped off for drinking fizzzy yellow water :pac:.


But yeah, that's just the price of their bottles, they haven't put the prices up.

Bud is disgusting piss but tbh a bottle of Corona can be the perfect substitute for a proper beer when you're in a normal pub whose idea of nongeneric beer is putting a lime in your bottle. I'd love if everywhere in Galway had a beer menu a tenth as good as the Salthouse but sadly, more often than not you end up elsewhere.

_Whimsical_

Lets face it race week has become like a really cheap tacky wedding that everyone's invited to at this stage. Ladies day has started to verge on a gawdy variation of halloween with the sea of orange faces and ridiculous hats on absolutely everyone and their mother. It's lost any element of glamour it ever had. It really needs a rethink, I can't see visitors coming here every year for this.

So yeah, basically a nay from me.

ben.schlomo

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

Lets face it race week has become like a really cheap tacky wedding that everyone's invited to at this stage. Ladies day has started to verge on a gawdy variation of halloween with the sea of orange faces and ridiculous hats on absolutely everyone and their mother. It's lost any element of glamour it ever had. It really needs a rethink, I can't see visitors coming here every year for this.

So yeah, basically a nay from me.

Ya to us locals its very much past its fun stage but to rednecks/Dubs etc its a novelty and great craic and thats why out of town-ers will come back year after year.

c_man

AnFearDorcha wrote: »

And why does everyone complain about rag week (supermacs "riot" aside) but love the races?

You've got to be joking. Bitching about race week is a pillar of Galway Life.

I worked for seven race weeks in bars in town ( :eek: ) so I don't need any reminding about the quality of asshole that it attracts. And the traffic is mental. But it's only really four days, then going into the bank holiday crowd, it can be great craic and there's no doubting the boost to the local coffers. All in all I wish there were a Garda crackdown on the element that's in videos like those above, thankfully they're in a minority anywho.

nineteen66

In the 90's ,from what I remember everyone seemed to dress normally.Owners,trainers and the old timers were the only ones wearing suits.In the madness that was the Celtic Tiger,the developers with the whitened teeth,pink shirts and pointed shoes had the Louis Copeland suit to finish the look.The wives were orange looking creatures with a big hat and loads of bling.For the last 6 or 7 years it's kids in the confirmation suit pished at 3 in the afternoon and the "ladies",well I'll let someone else comment on them......oh,it's a nay for race week.

LoonyLovegood

I've spent the week in Dublin with family, came back today because I'm working for the weekend. Walked from the train to Shantalla, had three guys try to grab me, and it just seemed a mess. I'm staying well away from town as much as possible for the weekend.

Seaneh

Deleted User wrote: »

Bud is disgusting piss but tbh a bottle of Corona can be the perfect substitute for a proper beer when you're in a normal pub whose idea of nongeneric beer is putting a lime in your bottle. I'd love if everywhere in Galway had a beer menu a tenth as good as the Salthouse but sadly, more often than not you end up elsewhere.

I was just being a jerk :P

I'd drink a Corona if someone handed it to me and I even willingly ordered one with a burrito the other week, its inoffensive and easy to drink, grand with food or on a hot day like.

Seaneh

Seaneh wrote: »

I was just being a jerk :P

I'd drink a Corona if someone handed it to me and I even willingly ordered one with a burrito the other week, its inoffensive and easy to drink, grand with food or on a hot day like.

I knew, just felt the need to defend the Corona. Buritto and beer is my weekly treat, though tbh it's getting to be a twice weekly habit and there are few things better than a nice big burrito and some cold beer.

Missyelliot2

I don't think true Galwegians really enjoy how superficial the races have become. It's horrible being in Galway for race week- it's like 'Glenroe meets the housewives of D4' - nothing good will ever come of this. Stay home people!

ArtyC

Missyelliot2 wrote: »

I don't think true Galwegians really enjoy how superficial the races have become. It's horrible being in Galway for race week- it's like 'Glenroe meets the housewives of D4' - nothing good will ever come of this. Stay home people!

We can't .... We have to serve these cretins!!

Mrs OBumble

Deleted User wrote: »

there are few things better than a nice big burrito and some cold beer.

Man, you need to get out more.

whineflu

nineteen66 wrote: »

In the 90's ,from what I remember everyone seemed to dress normally.Owners,trainers and the old timers were the only ones wearing suits.In the madness that was the Celtic Tiger,the developers with the whitened teeth,pink shirts and pointed shoes had the Louis Copeland suit to finish the look.The wives were orange looking creatures with a big hat and loads of bling.For the last 6 or 7 years it's kids in the confirmation suit pished at 3 in the afternoon and the "ladies",well I'll let someone else comment on them......oh,it's a nay for race week.

This is spot on.

moochers

Hate race week. Will never understand how people will justify spending over a fiver on booze in a plastic glass and then stand on the street drinking. What a rip off.

I do find it amusing to watch the 'ladies' with their tangerine faces, and bad hair extensions, their cheap dresses and their attempts to walk in skyscraper stripper heels.

I live in the 'west' too and never cross the bridge for race week and for any night out for that matter.

Mrs OBumble

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Man, you need to get out more.

Not really, if you cant appreciate the little things then you must be quite the sad sack.

Used love going for a couple of days. Now, if we do venture up, we come home that night. The racing itself is inferior. It beggars belief that hurdle and steeplechase races are run in the middle of summer. Luckily, we've had plenty of rain this year, but the big trainers keep their good horses at home. Judging by the crowds and the amount of food and drink consumed, it's fair to say that the recession isn't biting everywhere!
So it's Neigh from me!

pleasant Co.

Mrs OBumble, Darko, quit the snide remarks.

JimLarkin

RAG Week will always be less popular simply because it's students involved, which makes it easier for older people to be bitter about it.

I've been out 3 days this week and didn't see a jot of trouble. In fact it was refreshing to see bouncers be a bit more lenient with everyone, loads of people drinking on the streets outside pubs having big sing-songs which you wouldn't usually get away with. The Gardaí are also far, far more heavy handed in RAG Week. The other night I saw 2 aul fellas roaring at people from one of those rickshaws, one of them then tried to (jokingly) kick somebody as he went past. A Garda saw this, went over and had a word. If they were students during RAG Week they'd have been pinned to the floor, thrown in the back of a paddy-wagon and left in a cell for the night.

I'm not sure if it's unique to Galway, probably not, but some people just seem determined to have a right old whinge about literally any sort of fun going on here.