Galway charities are sailing in behind the Volvo Ocean Race with a host of activities throughout the two-week festivities ensuring the city will be buzzing from May 23.
More than 100 free events are planned to take place throughout the festival, including music, culture, dance, street theatre and sailing, and an array of local charities, both small and established, are hosting an action-packed events programme that will appeal to all ages. These events promise to both raise awareness and some funds for these worthwhile causes.
COPE Galway, which provides refuge for those affected by domestic violence, accommodation for the homeless, and support for older people living at home, will be holding two events over the course of the Galway stopover. Saturday May 23 will see hundreds of competitors take to the sea and streets of Galway as part of the COPE Galway Ocean Race ’09 Triathlon. Then, as part of Lá Gaeilge, they will be attempting to set the Guinness World Record™ for the largest game of Chinese Whispers on June 1 on the Salthill Promenade.
Galway Rape Crisis Centre will follow in the sports theme when it holds a 25-hour row-athon on Saturday May 30 in Salthill to celebrate 25 years of services and support. The GRCC provide counselling and support to survivors of sexual violence and abuse in the west of Ireland.
CD’s Helping Hands will host two events in Eyre Square - The Lackagh Mummers will perform a special selection of Irish music and dance, while Conor Lambert’s interactive puppet theatre will provide entertainment to the young and old.
Another western-based charity, the Western Society for Autism, will wrap up the festivities by hosting ‘All that Jazz’ in the Race Village on Sunday June 7 to gain support to help build new facilities for essential accommodation services in Claregalway.
See www.galway volvooceanrace.com for more information.
