Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture

Storm 10 · 06-02-2020 3:03pm

Not looking good

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/two-weather-warnings-in-place-for-election-day-with-storm-ciara-on-the-way-980156.html

Greaney · 06-02-2020 3:12pm

Storm 10 wrote: »

Can't believe that they have called the event in the swamp "Hope it rains" what the f..k

They didn't. It's called, 'The Opening Ceremony'

Storm 10 · 06-02-2020 4:01pm

Greaney wrote: »

They didn't. It's called, 'The Opening Ceremony'

Read link it's called what I posted ref City Truibune

https://connachttribune.ie/great-balls-of-fire-signal-start-of-galway-2020-2020/

Discodog · 06-02-2020 5:15pm

I would expect them to announce that it's cancelled tomorrow. The forecast is now worse with rain arriving earlier. There's a Yellow warning for the whole weekend with rain & high winds.

beardybrewer · 06-02-2020 7:24pm

Seriously with the election it was already a shame they didn't move it. Not fair on people outside of Galway who might be travelling Friday and miss their vote.

Current forecast looks horrendous now with the storm pushing in earlier as usual. i'm showing 22.8mm rain and gusts of 54mph on Sat and 26.6mm / 72mph for Sun.

I hope they push it.

gordongekko · 06-02-2020 9:16pm

pure.conya wrote: »

yes, but it was never a recent dump and is now a feature of the centre of our city that's enjoyed by young and old, locals and tourists from the first warm sunny day to the last, where as the swamp...

Ditto the swamp. Clearly you've never been out there. Loads of people playing in the playground, walking/cycling along the track, matches being played on the pitches or people just relaxing enjoying the view

inisboffin · 06-02-2020 10:03pm

In town just a while ago, and they still seem to be running sound checks. Hmm. I suppose they will call it tomorrow.

Storm 10 · 06-02-2020 11:21pm

Met Eireann forecast for Saturday and Sunday is the worst they could have, strong winds and heavy rain in the most exposed part of Galway and people not allowed to bring buggies or umbrellas good luck with that

Greaney · 06-02-2020 11:23pm

Storm 10 wrote: »

Read link it's called what I posted ref City Truibune

https://connachttribune.ie/great-balls-of-fire-signal-start-of-galway-2020-2020/

Let us read what you wrote first..

Storm 10 wrote: »

Can't believe that they have called the event in the swamp "Hope it rains" what the f..k

The event in the Swamp is not called 'Hope it rains'. The article does not say the Opening Ceremony in South Park is called 'Hope it Rains'. There is a project in 2020 called 'Hope it rains' but it's not happening in South Park. The writer of the Article is linking the name of one project with the weather this weekend, it is an attempt at wit, not the title of the opening ceremony.

I don't know if you've every had to organise an outdoor event, but if you have, you'd know that the weather is always an issue. I'd be a pity if it was cancelled... we saw some of the Pyrotechnics today and they were pretty impressive... The town 'fire Tours' have been blessed with extra ordinary weather... you win some, you loose some... we'll see.

Storm 10 · 06-02-2020 11:55pm

Greaney wrote: »

Let us read what you wrote first..

The event in the Swamp is not called 'Hope it rains'. The article does not say the Opening Ceremony in South Park is called 'Hope it Rains'. There is a project in 2020 called 'Hope it rains' but it's not happening in South Park. The writer of the Article is linking the name of one project with the weather this weekend, it is an attempt at wit, not the title of the opening ceremony.

I don't know if you've every had to organise an outdoor event, but if you have, you'd know that the weather is always an issue. I'd be a pity if it was cancelled... we saw some of the Pyrotechnics today and they were pretty impressive... The town 'fire Tours' have been blessed with extra ordinary weather... you win some, you loose some... we'll see.

No one wants to see it cancelled let's hope for the best

_Puma_ · 07-02-2020 10:28am

Forecasts are looking particularly bad all weekend. You would have to feel for the organizers. Doesn't look like there is any way this can go ahead as planned.

pure.conya · 07-02-2020 10:59am

Greaney wrote: »

Eyre Square's capacity isn't big enough. When 2020 went to do the program launch they were limited in their numbers. I'm trying to remember the exact amount but it was something silly like 5k. Tuam had 2.5 k on Tuesday night so clearly Galway is going to be well over 10 times that. They have capacity in South Park for 50k. Taking into account Public transport needs for the night and the history of events in South Park, I imagine they were left with no other choice. When you organise outdoor events (and I have), you have to plan and pick dates well in advance so it's always a gamble.

It's bad luck if the storm hits on Saturday, because at least three of the six county towns are having exeptionally lovely weather for the opening. I wasn't at Ballinasloe, but Tuam was a dream...

i know all about the capacity and the risks involved when organising outdoors events in Galway City centre, i was replying to your man trying to be funny about the damage to the grass down the swamp as if it compares to when the grass used to be totally ruined in Eyre Sq well into the summer months due to a crap Christmas market

pure.conya · 07-02-2020 11:01am

beardybrewer wrote: »

Seriously with the election it was already a shame they didn't move it. Not fair on people outside of Galway who might be travelling Friday and miss their vote.

PMSL

pure.conya · 07-02-2020 11:04am

gordongekko wrote: »

Ditto the swamp. Clearly you've never been out there. Loads of people playing in the playground, walking/cycling along the track, matches being played on the pitches or people just relaxing enjoying the view

I'm a galway native, i know all about the swamp and how much its enjoyed by many, but it most definitely is not the centre of the city that is viewed and enjoyed by almost everybody that passes through the city

Doctors room ghost · 07-02-2020 12:03pm

beardybrewer wrote: »

Seriously with the election it was already a shame they didn't move it. Not fair on people outside of Galway who might be travelling Friday and miss their vote.

Current forecast looks horrendous now with the storm pushing in earlier as usual. i'm showing 22.8mm rain and gusts of 54mph on Sat and 26.6mm / 72mph for Sun.

I hope they push it.

It goes to show just how much of an ignoramus lieo varadgar and his Dublin goons are announcing an election the day the launch for Galway 2020 was on.not a single fcuk given for the paddys in the west as usual.
Easy spot the yes men among the crowds though backing a do nothing lieo.9 years and he hasn’t a tap done.
Galway 2020 is years in the planning. The election is a last minute fcuk up job.
I hope they get the weather for the Galway launch to go ahead and it’s an enjoyable day for all involved.

Discodog · 07-02-2020 12:38pm

I have sympathy for all the artists, volunteers etc. But I have no sympathy for the organisers.

This was a bad plan. Wrong time, wrong venue & wrong type of performance. If you are planning an event like this in February you have to have a wide contingency plan. They should of had a window of a minimum of five days, ideally seven.

This weather was predicted last weekend. The event could of been moved forward to Thursday with a guarantee of good weather. I just hope that they have good event insurance.

It needs to be cancelled now. Carrying on with the work is just wasting money.

Greaney · 07-02-2020 12:45pm

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

It goes to show just how much of an ignoramus lieo varadgar and his Dublin goons are announcing an election the day the launch for Galway 2020 was on.not a single fcuk given for the paddys in the west as usual.
Easy spot the yes men among the crowds though backing a do nothing lieo.9 years and he hasn’t a tap done.
Galway 2020 is years in the planning. The election is a last minute fcuk up job.
I hope they get the weather for the Galway launch to go ahead and it’s an enjoyable day for all involved.

Love yer rant:D, Yes, I hope the main storm doesn't hit till a few hours after we've stopped drumming. Truth is we're prepared to drum in the rain, (It'll be raining tonight in Athenry, but we're doing it anyway) we're even prepaired to postpone..... but we've just spotted that the City council are talking about cancelling altogether, and that would be very dissappointing for all of us around the county who volunteered.

We've been having a ball getting to know new friends and the friendly rivalry between towns has been great. Clusters have towns have drummed together (folk from Gort & Clarinbridge with Athenry, Headford & Dunmore with Tuam etc.) it really has been a joyful time with plenty of co-operation & car pooling. There are disabled participants in wheelchairs, adults with intellectual disabilities, folk from direct provission, etc., it's really been a joy and we've so wanted to share it with the city & county. So we'll keep going till we have to stop....

Doctors room ghost · 07-02-2020 12:48pm

Greaney wrote: »

Love yer rant:D, Yes, I hope the main storm doesn't hit till a few hours after we've stopped drumming. Truth is we're prepared to drum in the rain, (It'll be raining tonight in Athenry, but we're doing it anyway) we're even prepaired to postpone..... but we've just spotted that the City council are talking about cancelling altogether, and that would be very dissappointing for all of us around the county who volunteered.

We've been having a ball getting to know new friends and the friendly rivalry between towns has been great. Clusters have towns have drummed together (folk from Gort & Clarinbridge with Athenry, Headford & Dunmore with Tuam etc.) it really has been a joyful time with plenty of co-operation & car pooling. There are disabled participants in wheelchairs, adults with intellectual disabilities, folk from direct provission, etc., it's really been a joy and we've so wanted to share it with the city & county. So we'll keep going till we have to stop....

Nice one. I wish ye well at it and hopefully it goes good for ye.

Paddy_man · 07-02-2020 12:53pm

Greaney wrote: »

Love yer rant:D, Yes, I hope the main storm doesn't hit till a few hours after we've stopped drumming. Truth is we're prepared to drum in the rain, (It'll be raining tonight in Athenry, but we're doing it anyway) we're even prepaired to postpone..... but we've just spotted that the City council are talking about cancelling altogether, and that would be very dissappointing for all of us around the county who volunteered.

We've been having a ball getting to know new friends and the friendly rivalry between towns has been great. Clusters have towns have drummed together (folk from Gort & Clarinbridge with Athenry, Headford & Dunmore with Tuam etc.) it really has been a joyful time with plenty of co-operation & car pooling. There are disabled participants in wheelchairs, adults with intellectual disabilities, folk from direct provission, etc., it's really been a joy and we've so wanted to share it with the city & county. So we'll keep going till we have to stop....

Fair play for volunteering and from what ive heard, its been fantastic so far. I got a little preview last night down at the swamp and i really hope the storm stays away long enough for it to go ahead and they dont have to cancel the bird

even if it goes ahead, it looked cool!!

Paddy_man · 07-02-2020 1:23pm

Galway 2020 just replied to a question on Facebook asking it the event is still going ahead:

"Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture Hi, we are aware of the current weather predictions for Saturday and the event is scheduled to go ahead as planned."

zell12 · 07-02-2020 1:33pm

Deluge of rain forecast in Galway Saturday 14:00-21:00
High tide is 5m at 16:41 as well

Met say:
Saturday, 8th Feb: Southerly winds will strengthen during Saturday reaching mean speeds of 50-65km/h with gusts reaching 90-110km/h.
A spell of heavy rain will spread eastwards across the country on Saturday with 20-40mm expected, highest in the west and northwest.
The combination of Spring Tides and high seas as well as stormy conditions will result in an elevated risk of coastal flooding along western coasts

thecretinhop · 07-02-2020 1:34pm

Paddy_man wrote: »

Galway 2020 just replied to a question on Facebook asking it the event is still going ahead:

"Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture Hi, we are aware of the current weather predictions for Saturday and the event is scheduled to go ahead as planned."

unreal. 22mm rain am 9.9 mm rain pm. gusts of 70 to 100kph, a chance of thunder... fk it what could go wrong..

irish_major · 07-02-2020 1:56pm

Mental by them to still be going ahead with this

Storm 10 · 07-02-2020 2:02pm

Taking some chance going ahead in the conditions forecast, could be personal injuries claims if anything came loose and hit someone or if someone fell into the Corrib.there are hundreds of barriers up that could blow over.

Utopia Parkway · 07-02-2020 2:22pm

irish_major wrote: »

Mental by them to still be going ahead with this

They can't even delay it 24 hours as it'll be even worse on Sunday.

Wonder could have they brought it forward 24 hours to Friday evening? It'll probably be OK tonight. Presume not for whatever reason.

Discodog · 07-02-2020 2:37pm

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

They can't even delay it 24 hours as it'll be even worse on Sunday.

Wonder could have they brought it forward 24 hours to Friday evening? It'll probably be OK tonight. Presume not for whatever reason.

The wind speed is already way too high for fireworks. It's made worse by the wind direction.

You have to designate a fallout zone downwind of the site. A Northerly wind would allow fall out over the sea. This wind direction brings windfalls over population areas.

Those towers must have a wind rating.

Discodog · 07-02-2020 2:39pm

Storm 10 wrote: »

Taking some chance going ahead in the conditions forecast, could be personal injuries claims if anything came loose and hit someone or if someone fell into the Corrib.there are hundreds of barriers up that could blow over.

Especially during an official ME warning.

pure.conya · 07-02-2020 2:48pm

Discodog wrote: »

.

It needs to be cancelled now. Carrying on with the work is just wasting money.

its grand, not their money

07-02-2020 3:16pm

Pretty much.

An apt Dublin phrase they seem to be thinking here:

"Just a bit of fukcin' Luck"

Greaney · 07-02-2020 3:29pm

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Utopia Parkway wrote: »

They can't even delay it 24 hours as it'll be even worse on Sunday.

Wonder could have they brought it forward 24 hours to Friday evening? It'll probably be OK tonight. Presume not for whatever reason.

The Athenry fire ceremony is tonight, Friday, so they couldn't have. The fire orbs were lit first in each town...

gordongekko · 07-02-2020 3:33pm

pure.conya wrote: »

i know all about the capacity and the risks involved when organising outdoors events in Galway City centre, i was replying to your man trying to be funny about the damage to the grass down the swamp as if it compares to when the grass used to be totally ruined in Eyre Sq well into the summer months due to a crap Christmas market

You brought Eyre Square into it.

gordongekko · 07-02-2020 3:38pm

Discodog wrote: »

This weather was predicted last weekend. The event could of been moved forward to Thursday with a guarantee of good weather. I just hope that they have good event insurance.

/QUOTE]

Ah now come on its not that easy to organise an event and then expect to advertise the date as "sometime in February" a date had to be put on it and clearly moving that date forward at short notice is a non runner

ChewyLouie · 07-02-2020 4:32pm

It's gone to an orange weather warning, as expected. They're leaving this very late to cancel...

Utopia Parkway · 07-02-2020 4:38pm

Discodog wrote: »

The wind speed is already way too high for fireworks. It's made worse by the wind direction.

You have to designate a fallout zone downwind of the site. A Northerly wind would allow fall out over the sea. This wind direction brings windfalls over population areas.

Those towers must have a wind rating.

Yeah wind is already getting up even sooner than expected.

Official orange wind warning now for Donegal, Mayo and Galway.

Wind warning for Galway is for between 1pm to 6pm tomorrow. Seems like it will die down a bit in the evening then before picking up again overnight.

pure.conya · 07-02-2020 4:50pm

ChewyLouie wrote: »

It's gone to an orange weather warning, as expected. They're leaving this very late to cancel...

no they're not, this is typical of event organisers, remember last years music festival out in Carnmore last year

zell12 · 07-02-2020 4:54pm

No pressure, only tens of millions will be watching
https://twitter.com/Failte_Ireland/status/1225793878827192321?s=20

Storm 10 · 07-02-2020 5:06pm

Letting off fireworks in a gale near a fuel depot is not a good idea

ChewyLouie · 07-02-2020 5:53pm

pure.conya wrote: »

no they're not, this is typical of event organisers, remember last years music festival out in Carnmore last year

Another example that was even later doesn't make this not late...

Discodog · 07-02-2020 6:50pm

According to GBFM they are meeting now to decide what to do.

It would be madness on a yellow warning, seriously negligent on an orange.

Discodog · 07-02-2020 6:51pm

gordongekko wrote: »

Discodog wrote: »

This weather was predicted last weekend. The event could of been moved forward to Thursday with a guarantee of good weather. I just hope that they have good event insurance.

/QUOTE]

Ah now come on its not that easy to organise an event and then expect to advertise the date as "sometime in February" a date had to be put on it and clearly moving that date forward at short notice is a non runner

Better than no event at all.

ronnie3585 · 07-02-2020 7:38pm

Just posted on the Galway 2020 Twitter page:

We aware of the current weather advisories. As public safety is our primary concern, we are keeping the situation under review. Our intention is that the Opening Ceremony will still go ahead, but may be subject to alteration. We will update further on Saturday morning.

Ficheall · 07-02-2020 7:58pm

This isn't what the obnoxiously loud noise is then?

ChewyLouie · 07-02-2020 8:07pm

Being discussed on RTE1 radio...

thecretinhop · 07-02-2020 11:25pm

utter bs by organisers, incompetent at best. hubris is the word. is this karma for de utter bull sht about changing date from jan to feb to cover up their lack of planning?
in city tribune women trying to book tickets for months no avail.
delighted when we won it, slowly turned to depression when i saw de cluster **** that emerged. then the legends of galway council elite came on. fk me. they can't organise a traffic light to sync.
now finally they will avoid decision untill its too late. no questioning of decision to have it in swamp, no questioning why so many have left the year...
so here we are probably called off 2mrw an utter fk up, oh btw another 2.5 million for this?? while 80 year old people lie in a and e waiting hours/days for help. fk me.

Storm 10 · 07-02-2020 11:34pm

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

jammiedodgers · 08-02-2020 12:57am

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

Shhh don't be asking questions. Just enjoy all the culture.

Greaney · 08-02-2020 1:12am

Athenry was supposed to bucket down.... it didn't. Phew

ratracer · 08-02-2020 9:28am

Greaney wrote: »

Athenry was supposed to bucket down.... it didn't. Phew

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.

Discodog · 08-02-2020 9:41am

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

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

Ashleigh1986 · 08-02-2020 10:04am

Will they try to get some sort of event on ?
I'm thinking the president to make his speech .
If they cancel the fireworks and other parts ,and say nothing to the public , just to make sure the public attend in their thousands it will send out a bad message .
This outdoor event should have been held on the evening before st Patrick's day .
People would have been off the next day .
Thousands of tourists would already be in the city .
It would be springtime so chances of some better weather .
Showcase some Irish music .
It would be shown all around the world as part of 2020 and st Patrick celebrations.

Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture

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