Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture

pure.conya

Storm 10 wrote: »

Any idea how much the set up in the swamp is costing heard today on radio they are the same crowd that done the opening ceremony for the London Olympics, I'm sure they don't come cheap

not their money, it's all good

pure.conya

Discodog wrote: »

And did we really need to employ them? We have wonderfully creative people in Galway.

bit like the local arts festival, remember a rival festival had to be setup one year to include local artists, shocking levels of bull**** in this city

cfeeneyinterior

pure.conya wrote: »

bit like the local arts festival, remember a rival festival had to be setup one year to include local artists, shocking levels of bull**** in this city

Yea, they didn't seem to realise it was an "international" arts festival

ChewyLouie

We will update further on Saturday morning.

What time of day is morning for these creative folk?...

Snow Garden

Not a bad morning.

Discodog

Snow Garden wrote: »

Not a bad morning.

Take a walk along the shore like I just did. Freezing wind & now starting to rain.

Pen Rua

And it’s cancelled.

thesandeman

Cancelled.

zell12

biko

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/galway-2020-opening-ceremony-cancelled-due-to-weather-warnings-1.4165760

Galway 2020 opening ceremony cancelled due to weather warnings
Year as European Capital of Culture had been due to start with fire spectacle

Breaston Plants

Doesn't say when they plan to put it on.

Discodog

Breaston Plants wrote: »

Doesn't say when they plan to put it on.

The last delay date was Tuesday but that looks unlikely.

Rossie11

Real shame and bad luck but the right decision
I hope they can find a slot in coming weeks for it
As someone mentioned St Patrick weekend would be a better time

Redo91

Real shame they had to cancel it. Yes you could say it has been badly organised but there’s no denying it’s extremely unlucky that after a lovely week we end up getting a weather warning on the weekend of it.

They seem to have cancelled it but would have thought they could get it on a day next week or something.

Feel sorry for all the volunteers and anyone travelling for it. Saw about 50 people in down in Aarhus 2017 jackets from when they hosted it so people probably travelled from overseas.

ChewyLouie

Disappointing but the only decision with an orange warning in place. Was clear for days.

Would be great if they could leave the preparations in place and run it in a week or two. Or an altered version with everyone that's still available to take part.

wily minx

They used the word cancelled rather than postponed deliberately I'm sure. Presumably there isn't the budget to pay everyone twice over.

Greaney

ratracer wrote: »

Well done Greaney! The online clips from the towns around the county all week look amazing. The set up down in South Park looks impressive and it will be such a disappointment if it doesn’t finish up with the spectacle that all the performers hard work and effort deserves.

Thank you, alas, it had to be cancelled but I think you know this by now. We had a great night in Athenry and I'm under the impression they may have brought the delegates out that night in case Galway went under.

I heard this morning there was 1cm of water in South Park so ahead of the storm Surge they've to take the rigging down, there's electrics n' all.

For those of you who think it was a bad choice of venue...

I'm a Galway Native and South Park has always hosted large events, some of you are forgetting the Macnas Parade collaboration on a could summer day, raining, wind, and fireworks with Les Comedians. Fire works were always held over the bay. South Park has also been the venue for Ice rinks, circuses, horse shows, Oyster festivals etc.. They have all happened there. Some have been great, some have been a blow out. To any native 'Wegian' it was a natural choice. It was the opening ceremony for the year 2020... it was never going to happen in July. It was what it was, and it was ruddy bad luck 's all. After a damp start in Clifden, they had a great night in Spiddal on a pier…. and from Tuam to Athenry the weather was perfect. So I think it's only hurlers on the ditch who bitch, cos the dress rehearsal on Thursday was epic, and now I can tell you....

The large towers that ran the width of the long stage were above each of the town globes. One by one they were going to be lit again to drummers and a beautiful choral piece which none of the small towns got to hear. After the speeches and poetry, the Phoenix was to fly between the towers (about 200m), it was a full pyrotechnic bird, about 30ft span, and it looked amazing.... We got to see it at half power during the dress rehearsal.

South Park is great location and most locals know it. I've stargazed, watched meteor showers and lunar eclipses from there for over 30 years. It's a great spot, it will be used plenty in the future.... and if Galway2020 are up for it, we'll all get stuck into the closing ceremony as well...

Discodog

South Park is a huge risk in Winter. Yes there was a week of good weather but that's the exception. This weather was predicted over a week ago. It's a great shame but the high risk was always there.

Any future organiser must reduce the risk, for example towers are a no no. The prevailing wind is likely to be SW to W so the maximum wind speed for fireworks is not much more than 10 km/hr. It's very easy to exceed that in February.

Spiddal got in between two hail showers & it was freezing cold.

This kind of event should be summer only. You want people to be able to enjoy the event & linger.

There should be a load of fireworks ready for another event. The bird could be suspended on two cranes which can erected in a couple of hours.

fergiesfolly

Would their (Galway2020)insurance cover the cancellation of this event.
If so, could they not hold it later in the year?

Greaney

fergiesfolly wrote: »

Would their (Galway2020)insurance cover the cancellation of this event.
If so, could they not hold it later in the year?

Hard to know. It would depend on the policy. Some of it was 'delivered' the sculptours etc. It related to St. Bridget so it might jar. I imagine there might be a closing ceremony.... also in winter:o

pure.conya

Greaney wrote: »

I imagine there might be a closing ceremony.... also in winter:o

a painfully long drawn out car crash it is so!!

Discodog

The opening & closing need to be simple indoor affairs. Then have a big celebration in the summer. Mid Summer's Night would be good & tie in with the ancient Celtic festivals. Dusk to Dawn

Make a real event of it with food etc, live bands etc. Maybe as a starter for Arts Week.

Storm 10

Just on news now it will not be re-schudled so that's it then.

Discodog

fergiesfolly wrote: »

Would their (Galway2020)insurance cover the cancellation of this event.
If so, could they not hold it later in the year?

The problem might be that event insurance is often for gate receipts & this was a free event.

Doctors room ghost

Storm 10 wrote: »

Just on news now it will not be re-schudled so that's it then.

Pity for all involved after all the planning and hard work.better safe than sorry though I suppose.

Discodog

Storm 10 wrote: »

Just on news now it will not be re-schudled so that's it then.

I don't think it could be but the assets could still be used.

Discodog

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

Pity for all involved after all the planning and hard work.better safe than sorry though I suppose.

Step outside. It could never have gone ahead in this.

Storm 10

Green area all flooded in the swamp

ronnie3585

A swamp in the west of Ireland, flooding in February. Who’d a thunk it??

gordongekko

Jesus loads of hurlers in the ditch around here

Ashleigh1986

gordongekko wrote: »

Jesus loads of hurlers in the ditch around here

... Ya we are on the ditch because the pitch is unplayable ...
As predicted it would down in the swamp in February .
Yet again galway fails when it comes to running an event .
The inability in this city to PLAN ANYTHING IN A PROFESSIONAL WAY IS BECOMING AN ENDLESS JOKE .

zell12

gordongekko wrote: »

Jesus loads of hurlers in the ditch around here

It's called a swamp, not a ditch, caller


Anyway of getting the monetary cost of this opening ceremony? staff, equipment, flights, accommodation, contracts, security, road closures, etc?
Oh wait, Galway2020 is a private company who are not required to divulge such detail despite begging taxpayers for more funds

Council to meet on Monday to discuss additional funds for Galway2020

pure.conya

zell12 wrote: »

It's called a swamp, not a ditch, caller


Anyway of getting the monetary cost of this opening ceremony? staff, equipment, flights, accommodation, contracts, security, road closures, etc?
Oh wait, Galway2020 is a private company who are not required to divulge such detail despite begging taxpayers for more funds

Council to meet on Monday to discuss additional funds for Galway2020

ching ching for the select few, while the rest of us suffer the loss of another €2,500,000 from local services

Ashleigh1986

So the city council decides during the week whether to give them another 2.5 million.
1.25 million in 2021 and another 1.25 million in 2022 .
As pointed out already that is going to mean if approved cuts in galway city services .
This for an event that on their website includes
(1) arts festival
(2) music event in galway airport on June bank holiday
(3) Christmas market in eyre square ......
EVENTS THAT HAVE BEEN RUNNING IN GALWAY FOR YEARS !!!!
.... What have they spent the money on that they have been given already ???
The lad playing the spoons down shop street couldn't have cost 2.5 million ???

jammiedodgers

Was the €2.5m approved by councillors?

zell12

jammiedodgers wrote: »

Was the €2.5m approved by councillors?

No. Monday meeting to decide.

ChewyLouie

The opening is being marked in Dublin

https://www.facebook.com/135976253079769/posts/2994873747189991/

Redo91

Storm 10 wrote: »

Just on news now it will not be re-schudled so that's it then.

What a farce! How can you not have an opening ceremony??

thesandeman

They're still advertising the opening on Radio 1 believe it or not.

gordongekko

Redo91 wrote: »

What a farce! How can you not have an opening ceremony??

They did it was on in the Galmont

tototoe

The question of how much has to be asked.

public money literally gone down the swamp. An outdoor event of this size at this time of year was always a crazy idea, considering Galway's prevailing weather.

Are there many other large outdoor events planned for this year?

pure.conya

tototoe wrote: »

The question of how much has to be asked.

public money literally gone down the swamp. An outdoor event of this size at this time of year was always a crazy idea, considering Galway's prevailing weather.

Are there many other large outdoor events planned for this year?

does the ECOC 2020 Galway race meeting count? are there any greyhound racing events incorporated into the ECOC book?

Discodog

I totally support Arts events but only if they secure additional funding that doesn't deny money for those in need. I wouldn't give the CoC crowd a cent unless their accounts are publicly available.

tototoe

Discodog wrote: »

I totally support Arts events but only if they secure additional funding that doesn't deny money for those in need. I wouldn't give the CoC crowd a cent unless their accounts are publicly available.

This is it. This is now being funded mainly from the public purse. On rte radio last week it was said gcoc had less than half a million in private funding out of a target of 7million, the rest is from public cash . Utterly insane imo.

How dare we spend money on the arts!

Discodog

Deleted User wrote: »

How dare we spend money on the arts!

I am happy to spend on the Arts when we have don't have homeless. A well organised opening ceremony could easily be self funding & even turn a profit. Music Festivals like Glasto & EP manage to combine a lot of Art with music.

I love that, for example those with special needs, were included in the proposed opening ceremony. But it's detrimental if the budget for special needs gets reduced to pay for an event.

Yes you can join in & bang a drum but your care facility will lose money.

flazio

Discodog wrote: »

I am happy to spend on the Arts when we have don't have homeless. A well organised opening ceremony could easily be self funding & even turn a profit. Music Festivals like Glasto & EP manage to combine a lot of Art with music.

I love that, for example those with special needs, were included in the proposed opening ceremony. But it's detrimental if the budget for special needs gets reduced to pay for an event.

Yes you can join in & bang a drum but your care facility will lose money.

So you reckon it should have been a paid ticketed event like Glastonbury and Electric Picnic rather than a free public event?

zell12

flazio wrote: »

So you reckon it should have been a paid ticketed event like Glastonbury and Electric Picnic rather than a free public event?

That's not what Discodog said

gordongekko

flazio wrote: »

So you reckon it should have been a paid ticketed event like Glastonbury and Electric Picnic rather than a free public event?

zell12 wrote: »

That's not what Discodog said

Discodog wrote: »

A well organised opening ceremony could easily be self funding & even turn a profit. Music Festivals like Glasto & EP manage to combine a lot of Art with music.

If it isnt what he said it would need to be clarified as it sure looks like hes suggesting a paid for event

Discodog

Discodog wrote: »

I am happy to spend on the Arts when we have don't have homeless.

That's a really silly position. There will ALWAYS be something. Health, education, homeless, economy, infrastructure etc etc etc.

By your position, there would never be a penny going to the arts, ever