Muted celebration of St Patrick’s Day in Galway

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – With hundreds of flags already erected and a greening of the city next Wednesday, St Patrick’s Day will be marked in style – albeit in a much more muted fashion as a result of Covid restrictions.

Since last weekend, a Tidy Towns initiative funded by Galway City Council and in conjunction with various city business groups, hundreds of flags have been flying in the city centre and Salthill to mark the national holiday.

On March 17, it is understood that a ‘greening’ of the city will take place with landmarks in the city including the Claddagh basin to be lit up in green to mark a day that would normally see the city thronged with tourists and locals alike.

With online events also taking place, including a showcase of the best Galway music talent, Covid hasn’t managed to put the kibosh on all festivities.

Chairperson of the Tidy Towns Committee, Cllr Níall McNelis, said the 200 tricolours put up across the city and along the Prom will serve a dual purpose – creating a festive atmosphere for those living within 5km of both locations, while also providing an opportunity to promote Galway online as people share photos to an international audience.

Locals should make the effort to share all aspects of the St Patrick’s Day initiatives, he said, so that Galway remains on the top of people’s list of places to visit once the Covid cloud has lifted.
This is a shortened preview version of this article. To read the rest of the story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.