Preparations for the Volvo Ocean Race stopover in Galway and the erection of the race village at the docks will go ahead regardless of whether the giant oil tanks are removed or not.
This is the view of Fiona Bolger, the communications director of the Galway Volvo Ocean Race, who was speaking at a press conference in the Let’s Do It Galway HQ in Merchant’s Hall (the former McDonagh’s building ) in Merchant’s Road yesterday.
“Everything will be going ahead irrespective of any removal of the tanks,” she said, before adding that negotiations are “still ongoing”.
The plans for the race village will be unveiled in April. The stopover takes place from May 23 to June 6.
Some seven to eight yachts involved in the race will be arriving into Galway on May 23/24. They will pass along the southern coast of the Aran Islands, turning north at Inis Óirr and heading into Galway docks. Bonfires will be lit on the Aran Islands to welcome the sailors to Co Galway.
The village will be located in the Galway docks. It will be accessed and exited from Forthill Road and the New Docks Road. It will have a capacity for 10,000 to 12,000 people and be open from 10am to 11pm during the stopover.
Construction will begin in May. The pavilions will be shipped in from Brazil and be erected in Galway on May 9. The team base equipment will arrive on May 12/13, and the village will be open to the public on May 22.
The official opening will be on May 23 and the entertainment will be provided by leading Irish fiddler Frankie Gavin, the Galway Tenors, and the Mulkerrin Brothers.
A total of 80 events are planned for the village during the stopover including concerts by The Stunning, Kíla, Sharon Shannon, Hothouse Flowers, and Aslan. A total of 10,000 students are expected to visit the village as part of school trips.
There will be street theatre and 14 art exhibitions throughout the city, held in conjunction with the race. There will also be a boat show at Nimmo’s Pier and an exhibition in the Galway City Museum.
During the stopover the public should have an opportunity to meet some of the crew. Galway will also be able to see the yachts racing both for display purposes (May 29 ) and in order to score points for the race itself (May 30 ).
There will also be junior sailing events on May 29, the Galway Bay Sailing Club Invitation Race on May 31 and hooker and curragh racing, the Galway Bay Regatta, and a sailing event for people with disabilities.
