A week in Galway during the Arts Festival's 21st Birthday 1998
Irish Mist in the porridge
Part Six By Vic King
"My tip, if you are going on a Dublin tour, is make up your own route."
Time to leave Devondell and Galway catching the 11.00am coach to Dublin. The journey takes about two and three quarter hours. I got into Dublin in a bit of a rush because I wanted to join the 'Rock Trail' walk that started at 2.30pm. I hastily switched my accommodation from the Oliver St, John Gogarty in Temple Bar which I had pre-booked. It was going to be an early start to check in for the plane and I didnŐt think I would have had any sleep there. The budget accommodation looked like it had been taken over by stag parties for the weekend.
I got to the 'Hot Press' shop in Trinity Street to take the rock trail. Our guide was called Paul who plays in a band called The Marigolds. The trail takes two and half hours. A girl from New York scribbled down almost every word we were told, but I didnŐt find it over-informative. Trouble is, I think we know a lot of the background anyway.
U2 wall, Windmill Lane Studios
My tip, if you are going on a Dublin tour, is make up your own route. We ended the tour at the Windmill Lane Studios and the famous U2 wall. Paul handed out the marker pens, so Isle of Wight Rock have made their mark on the wall. Look under the air vent, if anybody hasnŐt done a mural over the top of it by now.
I had trouble adjusting to the bigger scale of Dublin after Galway. The traffic was more of a hassle. It was the first day of the Guinness Blues Festival. I caught a bit of the Matt Taylor Band in Fitzsimons that started at 7.00pm. A good organ sound.
A comedy band performing on Grafton Street lightened the mood before I made my way to O'Donoghues, a pub visited on the music walk. Again, some terrific historic photos all round the walls. A group of musicians set up just inside the front door, but it was very difficult to hear them above the conversation level of people packing the pub. Too overcrowded to be enjoyable.
On the way back to be that enjoyable. On the way back to the hotel I saw a bit of Pigmeat Pete Smith at the Ha'penny Bridge Inn in Temple Bar, but it was too loud and the holiday was over.
Saturday 25th July
The Aer Lingus flight was at 9.55am and I got a taxi out to the airport to check in two hours beforehand. Dublin is a well organised airport. The flight took about an hour and then minutes before I arrived at Heathrow to be greeted by three members of the Plumbley family who kindly agreed to come up to meet me.
So it was goodbye Ireland for now, happy to meet, sorry to part.
Best of Galway summary:
Roisin Dubh, Galway
Pubs: Roisin Dubh, Dominic Street; Crane Bar, Sea Rood;
Lisheen Bar, Galway
Lishen Bar, 5 Bridge Street. Coffee house: Apostacy, 16 Dominic's Street.
Wine Bars: O'Ches' Wine Bar and Music Cafe, Francis Street;
The Plummit, Galway
The Plummit, Abbey Lane (between Woodquay and Francis Street) Amarula coffee, with an African fruit juice added. The elephants love it! Also antiques, bric a brac, cool clothing an they'll even do your typing for you if you want them to. Best wishes to Cressida at the Plummit. email: plummit@tinet.ic
Record Shop: Mulligans, 5 Middle Street Court, Middle Street.
Vic King
The End
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five