Galway, have you been entertained? I certainly have been! Not one, but two, street parades took place on the medieval streets of Galway on July 16 & 17th.
Culture Night 2020 at The Claddagh
Some shots from Culture Night 2020 down the Claddagh in Galway City. The Galway Hookers, Galway Hooker Sailing Club and Galway Bay Boat Tours were out in force with their impressive fleet of traditional Hooker boats. Corn Work, Mirror Pavilion by John Gerrard was also on show. The work was commissioned by Galway International Arts Festival and Galway 2020 as part of the Arts Festivals reimagined Autumn edition. The local wildlife certainly gave it the seal of approval!
Stay safe,
Marc
A Saturday Night on Lock-down - Galway
The shots below were taken on March 29th 2020. This was the first Saturday of lock-down in Ireland due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The photos were taken around 10:30-11pm. The streets were eerily quiet. On my 30 minute walk I only met a handful of people, probably the same as me, just getting out of the house to stretch my legs and part curious to see the impact of the lock-down on our city.
These streets are usually full of energy, craic, excitement, divilment. Not this Saturday night. This Saturday night everyone was staying home, staying safe, doing their part in the fight against this virus. I was sad to see the streets the way they were that night. I was also proud. Proud that the city, the county, the country were rising up and doing their piece. These pictures should forever tell that story. When we look back on this in years to come, and we will look back, this is how we fought back.
Tomorrow, we embark on Phase 1 of bring the country back to life. We will have more people out and about, more people travelling, building sites coming back to life and most importantly - being able to meet friends or family outside, within 5km of your home, in groups of no more than 4. Lest we forget the last few weeks. Please don’t undo the work we have all sacrificed so much for so far. Follow the rules, wash your hands, and most of all demonstrate cop on. If we do it won’t be long until can get the city back that we all know and love.
-Marc
Danse Macabre - Macnas
Macnas brought their magic to the streets of Galway with their parade, Danse Macabre, in October 2019. The annual parade attracts thousands year after year to the winding streets of 2020’s European Capital of Culture. Both young and old line the streets to partake in an evening of fantasy and escapism from University Road all the way along the cobbled streets to Fr Griffin Road in Galway’s Westend.
This years parade was based around a young boy called Conor. ‘Set in a market bizarre in a magic-realist world. The boy Conor is taken on a journey to release his grief, unleashing curiosity, fear, grief, love, laughter and party onto the streets of Galway.’ - Macnas.com
Galway is well known for it’s festivals and culture. The Macnas parade is the jewel in it’s crown. It is certainly one of the events of the year that I always look forward to.
Hope you enjoy my shots below!
-Marc
