SUMMER LIVING:Torrential showers and a reduced number of "air movements" didn't keep the diehard punters away from the Galway Races, writes LORNA SIGGINS

IF DECIMUS Junius Juvenalis is right, racecourse manager John Moloney should be completely wrong about attendance figures at this year’s Galway summer festival.

The satirical Roman poet who so astutely identified the public’s love for distraction – as in bread and circuses – could probably say a thing or two about escapism and Ballybrit.

Ergo, crowds should be up this year, not down by 10 per cent, as citizen Moloney predicted last week.

Whatever way you look at it, the city of fun is still pinching itself at the estimate that more than half a million people sought out seven boats in the bay two months ago. Per week, the Volvo ocean race stopover pulled in more than twice Ballybrit’s attendance last year.

That’s more than somewhat galling for the 1,200 horses that will be put through their paces during the next six days.

Air traffic is often regarded as a good barometer. Galway Airport’s air-traffic control confirmed yesterday that just 40 helicopters registered for temporary licences this year, which represents just under half last year’s figure.

Wednesday and Thursday, Ladies’ Day, will still be the busiest, with some 800 estimated air-traffic movements, a spokesman said. One lone “movement” was spotted before the first race yesterday.

Seasoned race-goer and the founder of the Fianna Fáil “tint”, former EU commissioner Ray MacSharry arrived before the throngs in the company of his son, Ray junior.

Former agriculture minister Joe Walsh was also studying the form early, while the king of the Galway market, Michael Staunton, was tempting fate, and attention, in a large sombrero.

With the corporate marquee village now transformed into a car park, most of the excitement off track was provided by the arrival of the Heineken Cup, complete with Leinster rugby players Malcolm O’Kelly and Bernard Jackman, in the company of Galway footballer Michael Meehan, whose team lost to Donegal at the weekend.

As city dwellers braved gridlock to do some last-minute errands yesterday morning, Galway Bay FM set the scene with the first in a five-part comedy series written by Declan Varley and Bernadette Prendergast. Hairs and Racesis based in a hair salon during race week, and intends to take a veritéapproach – which could mean a few useful tips during the 15-minute daily broadcast at 11.30am.

The veritéfor many race-goers yesterday was the weather – with torrential showers in between the south-westerly gusts, and soft going on the track. Winds are due to moderate, but skies will be grey and cloudy today, according to the forecasts.

If the blustery conditions continue, those redundant corporate-tent guy ropes might come in handy – to hold down the hats and dresses on Ladies’ Day.

Sponsorship at this year’s race festival includes a new prize record – €250,000 for the Guinness Galway Hurdle to commemorate the brewery’s 250th anniversary.

Some absent friends were remembered by loyal pilgrims yesterday, including former chair of the Galway Race Committee Ray Rooney, the “racing priest” Fr Sean Breen and solicitor Colm Gavin, who all passed away in recent months.

The first evening’s entire race card was sponsored by a group of Galway hotels as part of a €60,000 investment. Among those attending a reception hosted by the hotel group were the Mayor of Galway Cllr Declan McDonnell (Ind), Labour Party president Michael D Higgins, racehorse owner JP McManus and Fáilte Ireland West manager Fiona Monaghan.

Ballybrit is maintaining its standing among leading Irish and British trainers, the organisers say.

Homegrown “specialist” Dermot Weld intends to retain his Galway Trainers’ championship this week – he saddled his 200th winner at Ballybrit’s summer event in 2008.

"Just because there’s no Fianna Fáil tent, it doesn’t mean there’ll be no politics"

So says Naoise Nunn, organiser of Leviathan West, a political cabaret show that takes place in the Róisín Dubh pub in Dominick Street, Galway tonight.

"Is the west awake?" is the theme, and the event will be hosted by RTÉ broadcaster Ryan Tubridy.
The panel will include Harry McGee of The Irish Times, Connacht Tribuneeditor Dave O'Connell, Fáilte Ireland regional development director John Concannon, Carol Hunt of the Sunday Independent, and Paddy Cullivan of the Camembert Quartet.