The annual political pilgrimage to the west begins in earnest tonight, when the Galway Race festival opens for business at Ballybrit.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and half of his Cabinet are expected mid-week for the seven-day jamboree, which has a total prize fund of almost €2 million but generates multiples of that for the local economy.
However, in spite of much agonising over Ansar's chances of retaining the Galway Plate title, Mr Ahern will have competition of another kind on his mind - namely the contentious Galway West constituency.
Fianna Fail's nomination for third candidate, to run alongside sitting TDs Éamon Ó Cuív and Frank Fahey in next year's general election, still hasn't been resolved after a disorderly selection convention some months ago.
Four current and one former local councillor have been jockeying for position, and the odds are currently on city councillor Michael Crowe, who was elected as an Independent and joined Fianna Fáil some months ago. It is anticipated that there will be some considerable lobbying at a constituency event in the Galway Bay Hotel, while there is a price of €3,900 for tables of 10 in the party tent during the week.
In an effort to ensure "democratisation", the party will charge €75 on Friday, which covers race entry, a meal and a drink.
For the second year in a row, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has placed restrictions on helicopter flights during the race meet. Tony Gibson, aerodrome manager and senior air traffic control officer at Galway airport, said movements would be limited to 600 a day - 300 landings and 300 take-offs between the race course and city locations.
A maximum of 75 registered operators have been approved for permits, and at peak periods there will be one landing every 40 seconds.
However, flights will be suspended if there is low cloud cover or poor visibility, and the forecast is somewhat uncertain.
Mr Gibson holds the record for controlling 800 movements several years ago on Ladies Day,before the restrictions were put in. "When I began here about 1991, there were only 13 helicopters in total for the entire week," he said.
Meanwhile, gales marked the last day of the two Galway arts festivals yesterday, when the Saw Doctors and Noelie McDonnell and band performed a free outdoor gig in Eyre Plaza and the Westside arts festival held children's events in teepees on the other side of the city.
Bus Éireann will be putting on extra public transport during race week, while the Garda Síochána will monitor traffic restrictions on the approaches to the racecourse to avoid congestion.
