I’m not sure if there is a place called hedonism, but Galway was front of the pack to win the title at the races last week. Everyone you met seemed to be ‘living it large’. Most were involved in property development, irrespective of if that meant a shed in your back garden or a full scale development. A few had naturally done well having scored millions off building and selling estates built entirely from bubblegum and toilet roll inserts. These players were determined to spend the proceeds of success on drinking, snorting and shagging their way into ever higher states of hedonistic pleasure.
At one stage the champagne was being wheelbarrow-ed into the marquee at the races and just opened directly - no chilling! The five deep crowd hurled €100’s over the counter for a bog standard bottle of warm Moet. (money really can’t buy taste). When people eventually tired of the drink the demands for other stimulants started to increase.
The first few times I went to the loo people winked and pointed at their nose. Naturally I assumed there was something green and unsavoury in the area. After doing repeated inspections all appeared clear. As I look nothing like a coke dealer it became obvious that people were looking to score off anyone they passed. The coke washed up in Cork may actually have been destined for Galway and not mainland Europe. Demand certainly outstripped supply in the city of the high tribes.
Of course there can be only one thing that follows such artificial highs and that’s an attempt at a natural one. Every married bloke seemed determined to break his vow of fidelity – repeatedly. By this stage the girls, of which there were many, had given up on finding a husband and were just settling for anyone that could score them another drink. At any cost. The next morning the streets were like a women’s mini marathon of shame with girls in high heels and skewed hats making their way home from the previous night’s debauchery.
Now generally it is just the local Galway folk (Sweary) who are disgusted by the crowd and behaviour at the races, but this year they had an unusual ally. The original ‘property developers’, who balk at the title and insist on calling themselves investors, were horrified. One thing having these people push in on their business and lower margins, but hanging out in their summer playground was completely unacceptable. Most hid out in suites (the ones that weren’t already booked out by Russian prostitutes) or friends houses and castles around the city. You couldn’t really blame them. The crowd was slightly different this year, a bit younger, a bit rougher and a lot more full on. Everyone seemed to treat Galway as the last hurrah - maybe it was as I certainly peaked.
Assuming you are very drunk, in a dark room and squinting - a lot. Email me on Irishflirtysomething at hotmail.com
August 6th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Ah but were you part of the mini marathon of shame or did you keep your nose clean (in all senses)? Hard to see you having it away with a property developer, that’s for sure. Unless he could offer you a really impressive extension. I hope you got a few good swigs of the Moet at any rate.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
Nick - you win prize for most double entendres in one comment - lol
August 7th, 2007 at 4:18 am
This is the first time where any comment I would make could never top Nick’s. So I’m not commenting. So there.
August 7th, 2007 at 6:49 am
Lord Something of Somewhere (the title meant nothing to me, he may have been Milkman to the Crown) had the same to say about Royal Ascot this year.
I certainly peaked … More on this, please.
August 7th, 2007 at 9:11 am
WWW - ah go on…..
Primal - think he described it as ‘very marbella’; re the other it’s under negociation.
August 7th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Flirty give us a bit more on YOUR involvement in the whole “bebaucharous” night…..
August 7th, 2007 at 11:29 am
blimey flirty. i thought i was a bit crazy dancing on the garden decking in the daytime at a friends bbq after a bit too much vino (with a 6 year old and a 2 year old). sounds a tad scary at the races i reckon
August 7th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Sarah - working up to it.
Towny - i was very scary, not sure about the races.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Flirty, I’d have given you evens on an each way bet… would I have got my money back?
August 7th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Yes, what, pray tell, were you doing there?
August 7th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
i have a crisis! on a drunken night out sun night..few cosmos too many,i gave a guy my number…later that night i kissed a really hot guy in the club but was so drunk that i went off dancing and lost him
im now hooking up with the number guy this wk end but i cant remember whawt he looks like and am freaking that he isnt hot at all… ya know beer goggle etc…. aghhhhhhhh
August 7th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
my point above was that until now the picture i had in my head was of the guy i kissed in the club not of the guy i am actually meeting so now i have no idea what the guy im meeting looks like!!
August 7th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Conan - i only go one way :-0
Sassy - was very busy.
Sarah - just meet him, could be really nice. Not all about looks.
August 7th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
hahaha famous last words..not all bout looks but it is all about chemistry..ah feck it ill meet him anyway for a drink!!
August 7th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Having been at the GR, I can second ALL of your comments.. but what a week- ranks amongst the best sessions of my life. And yes my nose, my wallet and dignity ALL got a battering! Bring on GR08
August 7th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Good lord. Well that’s certainly changed my view of Galway.
August 7th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Flirty, Although hubby had a table in the FF tent, I decided I’d pass. Sounds like I didn’t miss much.
Gak + Warm Moét = Galway races.
August 7th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
sarah - look forward to hearing it.
Wonka - wasn’t that full on for me but may pass on 08
LG - you should try it!
IsIt - you let your husband go ALONE……..
August 8th, 2007 at 10:24 am
Yep Flirty, did you see him? *giggle*
August 8th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Jesus flirty, GR07 wasnt that full on for you? you must be a machine!
love the site by the way.. was sent on to me by someone that i was at GR07 with- we had such a giggle at the blog- brilliant!
July 27th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
[...] suspect things will be a bit calmer than last year. Apparently it is the first time in 7 years that the Radisson isn’t sold out and you can still [...]