Galway – the city of rain and self-aggrandisement?

Woke Hogan · 29-07-2019 6:51pm

Deleted User wrote: »

You're not well acquainted with Massimo's, or reality for that matter.

Do you work for the Galway Tourist Board?

Arghus · 29-07-2019 6:52pm

ben.schlomo wrote: »

We're an Atlantic seaside city, of course we get rain, just nothing above average for where we are. Especially so in recent years. Of all the things to give out about in Galway the weather should be the least of the issues/gripes. No proper concert venue, traffic, poor planning, bandwagon central in sport.

Most of those are valid reasons to give out about the place, but so is the weather and it's often the first thing people notice. Vistors - and probably most of the locals - aren't going to give a single second of their thoughts to whether the place is "bandwagon central in sports". And should they? Is that really a bigger mark against the place than its weather?

I understand completely WHY it rains frequently here, but that doesn't mean that I can't be a little bit put out when it suddenly starts lashing, again. I've never come across anyone who has ever claimed that the city is anything but a place where it's frequently pissing.

screamer · 29-07-2019 6:54pm

Dislike Galway immensely, rain sodden, stone wall surrounded, sheep land.
As for others- Kilkenny definitely could compete with Galway for those who think they are the “in crowd” in THE place to be....

Prominent_Dawg · 29-07-2019 6:55pm

It's probably the one week of the year 90 percent of Galwegian's themselves head away on holidays and make a fortune on air b&b as the rest of the country descent on the city

Arghus · 29-07-2019 6:59pm

Deleted User wrote: »

You're not well acquainted with Massimo's, or reality for that matter.

Guys, AvB is a fictional creation designed to get a rise out of people. Don't take it seriously.

Thelonious Monk · 29-07-2019 7:00pm

Have been there a couple of times. The traffic has to be seen to be believed, Galway City and the surrounding area is totally car centric, but so is the whole of Ireland really.
It's nice and all, and it's not like Ireland has many towns/cities of even Galway's size, so by Irish standards it's a decent place. But it's pretty underwhelming given how people go on about it. I did have delicious fish in that chipper people are talking about, hake. Very nice. But the fact a chipper gets talked about so much as one of the must-do things in Galway says a lot about the town really!

ArnoldJRimmer · 29-07-2019 7:08pm

screamer wrote: »

Dislike Galway immensely, rain sodden, stone wall surrounded, sheep land.
As for others- Kilkenny definitely could compete with Galway for those who think they are the “in crowd” in THE place to be....

At least Galway is actually a city

Aongus Von Bismarck · 29-07-2019 7:08pm

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Jesus you really haven't been here since the 90s!! The 'West Side' is around Corrib Park, Innishannagh, Rahoon etc, not sure youve ever been in the city if I'm honest, you don't seem to know your onions at all.

Apologies, I meant 'West End'. Which manages to be even more pretentious than 'West Side'. www.galwayswestend.com is the site they've launched. When a pub like the Blue Note is seen as the height of cool, then you aren't exactly dealing with people who have an intimate knowledge of cosmopolitanism.

Even though they do seem to have that sort of self-important opinion of themselves that I spoke about in my opening post.

The Blue Note opened in 1994 when everyone was looking in the other direction. At this stage, a generation of Galway’s most creative and passionate DJ’s, dancers, musicians, poets, ravers and rogues have passed through the Golden Gates. Some never left. Always changing, The Boozer is as different now from that opening night, as it is from three years ago, yet somehow still the same.

Prominent_Dawg · 29-07-2019 7:13pm

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

But the fact a chipper gets talked about so much as one of the must-do things in Galway says a lot about the town really!

Like in comparison to Dublins hop on hop off bus.. I know which I'd rather.

Thelonious Monk · 29-07-2019 7:17pm

Prominent_Dawg wrote: »

Like in comparison to Dublins hop on hop off bus.. I know which I'd rather.

Not sure what you mean but I've never heard anyone talking about Dublin's hop on hop off buses, the chipper in Galway is always brought up when someone asks for info on the city

ben.schlomo · 29-07-2019 7:18pm

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Jesus you really haven't been here since the 90s!! The 'West Side' is around Corrib Park, Innishannagh, Rahoon etc, not sure youve ever been in the city if I'm honest, you don't seem to know your onions at all.

Apologies, I meant 'West End'. Which manages to be even more pretentious than 'West Side'. www.galwayswestend.com is the site they've launched. When a pub like the Blue Note is seen as the height of cool, then you aren't exactly dealing with people who have an intimate knowledge of cosmopolitanism.

Even though they do seem to have that sort of self-important opinion of themselves that I spoke about in my opening post.

The Blue Note opened in 1994 when everyone was looking in the other direction. At this stage, a generation of Galway’s most creative and passionate DJ’s, dancers, musicians, poets, ravers and rogues have passed through the Golden Gates. Some never left. Always changing, The Boozer is as different now from that opening night, as it is from three years ago, yet somehow still the same.

Ya I mean it's scandalous that a pub would promote itself and big itself up, almost boast about itself, why would someone boast about things Aonghus!!

ben.schlomo · 29-07-2019 7:19pm

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

Prominent_Dawg wrote: »

Like in comparison to Dublins hop on hop off bus.. I know which I'd rather.

Not sure what you mean but I've never heard anyone talking about Dublin's hop on hop off buses, the chipper in Galway is always brought up when someone asks for info on the city

Mostly by people not from Galway though.

Church on Tuesday · 29-07-2019 7:19pm

I'd wager that AvB and Rape of Lucretia are the same poster. I know AvB came first and RoL is a tad later (that difficult second droll account syndrome?) but alas we may never know or indeed really care.

Ah, olde Galwaye town, I know it well. It's the people that come into the city that make it tick and vibrant really and Galwegians can be a cliquey bunch.

There's really nothing to do there except drink.

screamer · 29-07-2019 7:20pm

ArnoldJRimmer wrote: »

At least Galway is actually a city

Exactly the type of attitude I’d expect there TBF I never said Kilkenny was a city..... still full of pretentious people though

Woke Hogan · 29-07-2019 7:23pm

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Even though they do seem to have that sort of self-important opinion of themselves that I spoke about in my opening post.

The Blue Note opened in 1994 when everyone was looking in the other direction. At this stage, a generation of Galway’s most creative and passionate DJ’s, dancers, musicians, poets, ravers and rogues have passed through the Golden Gates. Some never left. Always changing, The Boozer is as different now from that opening night, as it is from three years ago, yet somehow still the same.

Jesus christ that's not real, is it?

ArnoldJRimmer · 29-07-2019 7:25pm

screamer wrote: »

Exactly the type of attitude I’d expect there TBF I never said Kilkenny was a city..... still full of pretentious people though

Ah yeah, I just like to point that out to our Kilkenny friends at every available opportunity

EmmetSpiceland · 29-07-2019 7:32pm

Made the mistake of taking the Galway city “bus tour”, highlights include NUI Galway and the IDA campus.

Oh and there was some gaudy “artwork” in some randomer’s garden.

Other than that it’s a nice spot to sink a “few” pints.

Franz Von Peppercorn II · 29-07-2019 7:35pm

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Does anywhere else in Ireland (or indeed Europe) have locals with such an inflated sense of importance about where they are from? I think the incessant rain and damp is doing something to their brains to be honest.

New Yorkers are humble and self effacing about their city by comparison.

Franz Von Peppercorn II · 29-07-2019 7:37pm

Woke Hogan wrote: »

Some people in Galway City are very smug about their little town. The way they go on you'd swear they were wine drinking members of the literati, as opposed to intellectually shallow pissheads. They don't even read books.

Jesus. You have an insight into what happens in everybody’s houses, don’t you?

JohnnyFlash · 29-07-2019 7:38pm

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

Made the mistake of taking the Galway city “bus tour”, highlights include NUI Galway and the IDA campus.

Oh and there was some gaudy “artwork” in some randomer’s garden.

Other than that it’s a nice spot to sink a “few” pints.

Did you get to see the diving board in Salthill?

irishguitarlad · 29-07-2019 7:38pm

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

Made the mistake of taking the Galway city “bus tour”, highlights include NUI Galway and the IDA campus.

Oh and there was some gaudy “artwork” in some randomer’s garden.

Other than that it’s a nice spot to sink a “few” pints.

Haha that sounds dreadful, I saw of those in Killarney as well, not much around the town to see on one of those buses, they'd have to go out to muckross.

padd b1975 · 29-07-2019 7:39pm

It's a kip.

Full of shams dressed in trilby hats and second hand clothes competing with each other to see who can make a pint of Guinness last the longest.

Buford T. Justice XIX · 29-07-2019 7:40pm

Galway is a nice place to head to for a couple of days. We don't mind if it's raining, it's the default weather in Ireland so a few showers should kinda be expected really. A half decent rain jacket and you're sorted for the day.

We normally head up there for a few days every year, a few friends from college and a few sights to see with no pressure. Always found the staff in the shops and bars very courteous even when under pressure during race week or holiday weekends.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts · 29-07-2019 7:41pm

Arghus wrote: »

Aongus, I don't believe a single word, but I admire your style.

Surely nobody believes him?

That’s part of the fun.

I’m pretty sure there’s one person behind a number of blatant parody accounts on this site.

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Jesus you really haven't been here since the 90s!! The 'West Side' is around Corrib Park, Innishannagh, Rahoon etc, not sure youve ever been in the city if I'm honest, you don't seem to know your onions at all.

The reference to helicopters at the races was pretty dated too. It’s an obvious pisstake account!

Pineapple1 · 29-07-2019 7:45pm

Thanks for the lol

EmmetSpiceland · 29-07-2019 8:02pm

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Did you get to see the diving board in Salthill?

Haha, of course! I do like Salthill, the aquarium, while small, is well worth a visit.

Part of the “bus tour” took us up “Threadneedle Road” and we were told it was the most expensive street in Galway, which we thought was great as that’s where we were staying.

I think the only real downside would be the sheer number of “crusties”, “wastrels”, “layabouts” and, worst of all, “trustafarians” populating the streets and main square. If you’re not careful walking home you could end up in a never ending “drum circle”. If you can get past the smell, that is.

Osborne · 29-07-2019 8:03pm

Jesus, you're reeling them in today AvB.

Muahahaha · 29-07-2019 8:13pm

ben.schlomo wrote: »

We're an Atlantic seaside city, of course we get rain, just nothing above average for where we are. Especially so in recent years. Of all the things to give out about in Galway the weather should be the least of the issues/gripes. No proper concert venue, traffic, poor planning, bandwagon central in sport.

Its all relative but for those of us living on the east coast we get almost half as much rain as what Galway gets, Met Eireanns own stats back this up.Dublin is the driest place in all of Ireland with around 120 days of rain, Galway has almost double this with 220.

Plenty of days last summer I can remember 25 degrees in both Dublin and in Galway but it was pissing down in Galway while rain free in Dublin. These are the disadvantages of living next to an ocean with big fcuk off rain clouds being blown your way by the prevailing winds. The west coasts job is to break up these clouds so us on the eastside can stay dry.

bfa1509 · 29-07-2019 8:28pm

Another Galwegian here. I absolutely despise the races. We always went on holidays this week as children.

More and more galway people I meet now seem to have an equal hatred.

Redo91 · 29-07-2019 8:40pm

Utter Consternation wrote: »

Don't bother trying to cycle there either.

Or step foot in Eyre Square anytime after midnight as you'll be liable to get the living sh1te bet out of you.

That’s BS. It’s far safer than the majority of Dublin and Limerick.

cameramonkey · 29-07-2019 8:41pm

Do Galway people say "happy out" a lot?

Edgware · 29-07-2019 8:51pm

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Did you get to see the diving board in Salthill?

And the Crazy Golf courses are the envy of the country

joeysoap · 29-07-2019 8:56pm

East coaster here. I love Galway for a few days every year. Went once in race week, never again. Used to drive there, but i don’t now if I can help it, the traffic is unbelievable, but what else can you expect when you have a motorway to the doorstep - and end it there. But for an oldie like me, the train station is great, even if services are very limited, and the ‘last’ train to Dublin is...........19.20.
McDonaghs is overrated, as is ‘Latin Quarter’. But I really like the city, and the walks are great.

branie2 · 29-07-2019 9:00pm

cameramonkey wrote: »

Do Galway people say "happy out" a lot?

I'm sure they do

ben.schlomo · 29-07-2019 9:13pm

cameramonkey wrote: »

Do Galway people say "happy out" a lot?

That and 'happy days', both equally annoying.

padd b1975 · 29-07-2019 9:25pm

cameramonkey wrote: »

Do Galway people say "happy out" a lot?

"Happa out".

29-07-2019 9:34pm

Genuinely don't understand the anitpathy towards Race Week. But as I type these words I have remembered an old submission to a poetry magazine about the event. Oh well since you've asked I'll dig it out from my Gmail later.

29-07-2019 9:47pm

An Old Story about Galway Race Week

(i)
Race Weak. We love Galway in the rain stop Galway has the most provincial rain; We sons of dealers, we judges' nephews. Every man loves Galway heavy and deep and wet we think!
This rain is like a teaser pony; his rasp is sharp I am sure his soil is stony.
Keep on, keep strong, turn up home now, have you the key, the Molly?
Not now you bitch I must write this down.
Spray, stop, go stop Galway rain, you know me, no stop me.
It is only an image you will see of me Stop. Me.

(ii)
Rain. Warm-imbued with bog -- deserted-mother's-epilogue-kind-of-downpour. It knocks the cathedral-prison like a cannon bone. A cannon bone that we have cast in stone and cast by every blacker widow, our face between the prison and the pillow. I wish we had shawls.
Spire of ire, so grim and gaunt a willow! only this time from a blacker one: o would she had set it all on fire, she should have had it all undone, blue bitch, Mother of Christ and him gone.

Church on Tuesday · 29-07-2019 10:03pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Genuinely don't understand the anitpathy towards Race Week. But as I type these words I have remembered an old submission to a poetry magazine about the event. Oh well since you've asked I'll dig it out from my Gmail later.

If you ever had to live through it on a regular basis for a few years, you'd understand trust me.

29-07-2019 10:16pm

Church on Tuesday wrote: »

If you ever had to live through it on a regular basis for a few years, you'd understand trust me.

I have spent more years at Galway Race Week than I haven't. Plenty of issues to contend with,for sure. Not the rain. Nor perhaps the massive economic stimulus, much of it in cash.

cgcsb · 29-07-2019 10:48pm

Prominent_Dawg wrote: »

As far as I'm aware the Dublin one includes the prison and the cemetery.. which are hotspots in Dublin, probably just a good way to get to know a city.

You mean kilmainham gaol and glasnevin cemetery? Two sites that are pretty central to modern Irish history.

You actually can't book a tour of kilmainham for weeks in advance

Church on Tuesday · 29-07-2019 11:11pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

I have spent more years at Galway Race Week than I haven't. Plenty of issues to contend with,for sure. Not the rain. Nor perhaps the massive economic stimulus, much of it in cash.

No, I mean just being a regular resident and having to be in the city center for work or college and having to slalom past any amount of throngs of obnoxious drunk idiots, male and female, in their Sunday best and trying to avoid pools of vomit and urine in the process.

When it was RAG week I could at least put it down to kids letting off steam but this is grown adults we're talking about here.

The pimps do make a killing alright though.

Pero_Bueno · 30-07-2019 12:58am

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Sorry for the delay in responding; I was at work and don't have the luxury of faffing about on the Internet waiting for 'going home time'.

I made quite a bit of money in late 2017 selling bitcoins as part of a group who had only paid a fraction of what we sold them for. I'm extremely well paid anyway, so decided I'd use the money to purchase a holiday home in Ireland. I had no hesitation in choosing Cork over Galway. The city has better transport links; the people are friendlier (even though I try to keep overly long conversations to a minimum as the accent does tend to irritate after a while), and the scenery is less desolate than Connemara or the Burren. There's also some decent golf courses in the area.

If I had had bought in Galway then I'd have had to deal with more rain, the locals going on about how remarkable it is to live in their parochial backwater of a city, and worst of all, the possibility of my brother calling out to my place on a Monday evening with a 'huge bag of cans and the makings of a few'.

As for my 10k time - it was 40:06. Thanks for asking.

Thanks for sharing, you've never shared the fact that you made enough money on bitcoin to buy a holiday home in SW cork and 10 years membership of Irelands top golf club.

And yes, apart from that you are EXTREMELY well paid .... jesus get a life!!!

Now excuse me, I need to clock in at my $12.50 an hour job, my super is gonna be pissed im late

simongurnick · 30-07-2019 3:19am

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Yes, I'm from County Galway. I got enough points that I didn't need to go to university there though, so I'm not quite as familiar with the place as I could be. Maybe there are more than 6 pubs over that side of the river, but few of them are very memorable. There's a better atmosphere in a mortuary than there is in Massimos. The 'West Side' is a ridiculous name for the place - it drums up visions of some Galway version of Leonard Cohen reading poetry in a coffee shop, when the reality tends to be a load of men in Crosshatch jeans and Superdry jackets standing outside pub doors pulling on fags.

Its not westside or even the west end. Its the wesht. And if you are in a pub there, then you are down the wesht.

rainybillwill · 30-07-2019 2:01pm

Whats not to love traffic, rain and expensive houses

topper75 · 30-07-2019 3:46pm

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

The Blue Note opened in 1994 when everyone was looking in the other direction. At this stage, a generation of Galway’s most creative and passionate DJ’s, dancers, musicians, poets, ravers and rogues have passed through the Golden Gates. Some never left. Always changing, The Boozer is as different now from that opening night, as it is from three years ago, yet somehow still the same.

ha ha

ludicrous!
We'll have to put that one down to Drawings from Stock.

ToBeFrank123 · 30-07-2019 4:09pm

Race Week appears to be a bigger deal to non Galwegians than the locals who view it as an inconvenience at best.

Most Galwegians don't make that big a deal about raceweek and its usually hyped up by those coming from outside.

Galwayguy35 · 30-07-2019 7:38pm

Galway born and bred myself but I'd have to agree about the city being talked up a lot more than what is on offer in reality.

The traffic is chronic every single day, the prices being charged for rent is just criminal and the public transport system is totally inadequate.

If the medical device factories ever decided to up sticks the place would be fooked.

Upforthematch · 30-07-2019 7:50pm

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

The traffic is chronic every single day, the prices being charged for rent is just criminal and the public transport system is totally inadequate.

Sounds like the problems of a successful city bursting at the seems.

I'm a big fan of Galway - pubs, people, shops, hotels, promenade, cultural things on, Irish blas around the place. It's one of the few places in Ireland where there's plenty to do when it's raining!

branie2 · 30-07-2019 9:00pm

Shop Street is great

Galway – the city of rain and self-aggrandisement?

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