He doesn't look much like Lugh, the Celtic sun god, and his second name is not Zeus or Thor. However, Galway racecourse manager John Moloney was close to some sort of deification last night for single-handedly banishing black clouds from Ballybrit.
It is often said that such weather gods can be appeased through ritual or festivals - which may explain why Moloney has been in the job so long. He is director of his 19th consecutive summer meet, which is set to generate many millions over the next six days for the western capital.
In spite of double the average rainfall for July in the west, the track passed its walkover inspections. A record crowd for the opening evening was buoyed by a local win, when Hovering, owned by auctioneer Liam Mulryan, romped home in the first race - the GPT Sligo Novice Hurdle.
Punters basking in hot sun and light westerly winds didn't have to worry too much about thirst of any kind, with new facilities in the €22 million Killanin Stand. The racecourse also boasts a €150,000 water filtration system, designed to outwit all manner of beasties and parasites, not least cryptosporidium.
For those taking no chances, there was free water distributed last night by bookmakers Paddy Power. The substance came with a "health warning" though. "Find the golden turd and win €1,000" stickers attached to the bottles read, while "no shit" was inscribed on the reverse.
Light northwesterly to westerly winds were forecast to veer southwesterly today, with the first showers not anticipated before a shower of politicians descend on Galway late this evening.
Much of yesterday evening's talk was about the impending visit of another deity - not Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, but Roy Keane and his team from Sunderland Football Club, who are due in Galway some hours before.
Keane's players take on Galway United tomorrow at Terryland Park. However, the man himself is expected to pay a visit to Ballybrit later this evening after a new 1,500-seater stand is opened at Terryland by Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Séamus Brennan.
Some 90 helicopters have sought licences for the Ballybrit air commute this year, according to Tony Gibson, aerodrome manager and senior air traffic control officer at Galway Airport. Gibson still holds the record for handling 800 helicopter movements in one day, set in 2004 .
Significantly, most of the flight applications this year have been sought by owners of private aircraft, with only three charter companies, including Executive Helicopters, offering a more "public" transport option from locations such as Oranmore and Salthill. At peak, airport traffic control staff will be handling movements every 40 seconds.
Bus Éireann is offering stress-free "overland" travel from Eyre Square, as traffic restrictions will be in place for both pilots and car drivers throughout the week. Tote jackpots are guaranteed on all seven days of the festival, and there are even prizes for holders of losing tickets.
No compensation, though, for those who lose their shirts.