THE GALWAY Races may be better known for Ladies Day on Thursday and Plate Day on Wednesday, but for many Galwegians, Friday is the highlight of the week – a “Local Day” of sorts.
“You get four different crowds coming in during the week,” explained Nollaig Cunningham, a former bouncer for many years on the doors of Galway pub Busker Brownes.
“Monday and Tuesday it’s a racing crowd, Wednesday and Thursday it’s a lot more pretentious, then Friday is local, before people down for the weekend come in Saturday and Sunday.”
The most difficult nights as a bouncer? “Wednesday and Thursday by far and, trust me, it’s a tough week for working.” Along with his wife Linda, Nollaig always tries to make it into Ballybrit on the Monday and Friday of race week, where he says there is a nicer crowd.
“It is a social day for both of us, it’s not about the betting – the weather has been half-decent and there’s a good atmosphere around.”
Enjoying the more relaxed environment Friday brings was half-back for the Galway footballers, Gareth Bradshaw.
“Most of the [Galway football] team are in today, we usually meet up on the Friday here. It’s way too busy on Thursday and it’s a more local crowd today than any of the other days.
“It’s my first day coming in this week – I’ve started to get a bit of interest in horse racing but I’d restrain myself from betting anything big, nothing over €20,” he said.
No winners so far, he added, obviously not having taken stock of the greatest local tip circling Galway every year, namely to keep betting on nags from the stable of Dermot Weld, the unofficial king of Ballybrit.
It was a lesson not lost on Catherine Brogan from Glenamaddy, Co Galway, who has been coming to Ballybrit for more than 40 years.
“If all else fails, just back Dermot Weld,” she advised.
Not coincidentally, she was up on the bookies after Weld claimed the first and last race – with Rainforest Magic and Address Unknown respectively – to take his record-breaking festival haul to 13.
Yesterday was not just about the betting for Catherine, however. After moving to Manchester in 1968, the Galway races soon became a convenient meeting place to reconnect with friends and family.
“Every Friday of race week for 20 years, I’ve met my sister on this bench across from the jazz band. We love watching the jazz band, and sometimes we jive.”