Dear Galway First,
I would like a small amount of space to congratulate Ollie Jennings and his crew for a wonderful staging of the Sawdoctors’ concert last weekend.
As a resident living directly across from the tent where the event took place, I initially had some reservations about the location. However, Ollie, being the careful “political” animal he is, canvassed the residents up and down Threadneedle Road, to gauge the temperature, so to speak. Assured as we were that the event would be carefully managed and that traffic congestion would be kept to a minimum, most of us wished him well, and hoped for a fine weekend.
True to his word the event went off without a hitch (that we could see, anyway ). The crowd were extremely well behaved, no litter to speak of – and bins provided up and down the street so no excuses! The buses duly arrived bang on time to collect the exiting crowds, and as promised the concert was over by 10.30pm, and the whole street completely empty by 11.30pm, without a drunk in sight! It was a great weekend of music and craic, and I for one am delighted that it was held in St Enda’s pitches.
What I fail to understand is why the Galway Arts Festival committee did not facilitate the holding of the concert in their own big top – which I understand was available for both nights – perhaps memories of Ollie and Project 06? What a shame if that was the case.
Ollie and his gang had their gig in St Enda’s without any problems or trouble – it was well policed, and a security presence ensured that no trouble occurred. While not exactly a wild fan of The Sawdoctors myself, I do hope the Sawdoctors continue to bring their brand of happy music and honest-to-God fun to many thousands of people all over Ireland and beyond for many years to come. (Maybe not every weekend in St Enda’s! ) More often than not we write to moan and complain, and we’re a great race to do that – but this time it’s to do the opposite.
Well done Ollie and The Sawdoctors.
Yours etc,
Ray O’Connor
Threadneedle Road,
Salthill.
