GALWAY RACES-A HIGHER STATE OF MIND
The great Irish playwright John B. Keane said that the “Galway races are a state of mind”. Indeed they are, a state of mind that is distinctly Irish, often copied but never equalled. It has been said about the festival that it once brought Galway city to a standstill but now brings the country to a standstill. I have been told that those who have been there will understand that, those who have yet to visit are still strangers to this country’s greatest sporting festival.Galway is my favorite city in Ireland ,but I have allways avoided race week . I have always felt that the city’s unique atmosphere would be spoilt by the massive crowds that converge on it for Race week every year . Well all that is about to change and next week I have decided to put my concerns to one side and plan to attend the races for two days .
I have also been told that whether or not you are a regular follower of horse-racing is immaterial, the salient pre-requisite for Galway racegoers is that they know how to have fun because that is the currency of the occasion. Starting in late July, the high point of the Summer holiday season, it has become the Irish equivalent of Mardi Gras, and is the fastest growing festival in the world. It effects an almost magnetic force on the population and once this force draws you into its field the experience that follows is almost hypnotising. The sights and sounds of the occasion all assail your senses at once; sight of constantly changing faces; horses; myriad colours of silks and clothing; sound of laughter; roars of triumph; challenging tone of bookies; children screaming; parents gently scolding; smell of the newly intruded-upon turf; horses’ sweat; quixotic odour of perfume. Such sensory bombardment on this grand scale leaves you powerless to resist, it’s too exciting, too seductive. It’s easiest to just give into it and get swept away by the thrill of it all.Sounds like fun ,lets hope it lives up to the promise .
If you decide to travel to Galway for the Races we might have some rooms left in Days Hotel Galway ,book on line at www.dayshotelgalway.com .