Post-Galway Comedown

Just had a wonderful 2 weeks in Galway for the family wedding and Arts Festival. Most days I'd have a swim at Blackrock followed by hours of coffee drinking and theatre attendance.

Working for a living is highly over-rated...

Firebirds on High St during the Festival

Peter Crawley does a good job of summing up the festival in the Irish Times here: Disquiet on the Western Front

My own personal highlights were:
- Decadent's production of Blackbird - a gripping two-hander about a convicted paedophile being confronted by his victim with many unexpected twists,
- David O'Doherty's lunchtime show at the King's Head - extreme hilarity without offense or discomfort
- Bon Iver's haunting melodies at the Big Top...despite it not being an ideal venue for such intimate music the songs were captivating and Justin Vernon's obvious affection for Galway gave the show a special edge
- Propeller's all-male production of A Midsummer Night's Dream - hilarious, spirited and utterly magical.

Circa's show Furioso was disappointing. The performers displayed their acrobatic skills without a shred of humour, excitement or charisma. There was no narrative, no character - nothing to engage the audience. Having heard such good things about previous shows it was a real let-down.

The Macnas parade too was somewhat anti-climactic appearing shambolic and pathetically small due to miscommunication about its layout. The crowd were not aware that the show was really the finale at the Cathedral and not the parade through the town. We had talked up the Parade hugely to all the wedding guests over from Scotland but most looked decidedly unimpressed on the night. I realise that budgets were greatly tightened this year but decent communication and marshalling doesn't cost a dime - it just involves better organisation.

I have to admit - the Ghost horse was pretty cool though:



And so the Arts Festival is over for another year. I'm boycotting the Races due to lack of energy/funds but will meet up with the gang in Galway for the Bank Holiday weekend.

As long as I can spend most of my summers in Galway...I think I'll be happy.

Good Morning

Festival season is upon once more and it's time I awoke from the summer stupor I've been in for the past 6 weeks. The Film Fleadh is on this weekend and will be closely followed by the Arts Festival and the Races...and more importantly the Wedding of the Century takes place on the 18th July - if the Dobbyns can survive this they can survive anything.


I shouldn't imply that I've been doing nothing for the last while - I've been doing nothing only most of time. The rest of the time I've been super busy. Festival season in Galway actually kicked off early this year with the wonderful Volvo Ocean Race in June. Two weeks of free concerts, a festival village, shiny boats and gorgeous sunny, warm weather made it a great time to be unemployed in Galway.

I had a chance to hang out with my Galway buds, soak up lots of sunshine and engage in my favourite past-time - talking about how great Galway is. The Californian beau got completely sunburned on the day of the airshow in Salthill . He no longer laughs at belobstered Irish people.

The much stressed-about and heralded Hen Night also took place in June and was quite successful if I do say so myself. We enjoyed High Tea at the Balmoral on the Saturday afternoon to start things off. My photo album of amusing snaps of the bride-to-be went down a treat as did the yummy cakes and several divine gingerbread lattes (possibly the most delicious drink I've ever had).

We adjourned to Lorna's flat for hen games and final alterations to our bras for the Moonwalk we were doing that night in aid of Breast Cancer charities. Mark had submitted some hilarious answers to the Mr & Mrs game questionnaire and despite the challenge Lorna still managed to score 75% overall. She also won all the prizes in the pass the parcel game which included a dashing apron, rubber gloves and a dustpan. Oh the merriment.

We finalised our preparations for the 13 mile walk due to start at midnight and were most proud of our fringed, floral, sparkley bras. See here:


And off we headed to Inverleith Park to walk the walk along with around 10,000 other people - mostly women but quite a few men participating also. The craic was mighty in the giant pink tent and we sat and gawped at the inventive costumes and brassieres parading around us...nuns with hands grabbing their breasts, superheroes and animal themed outfits abounded. After waiting around a little longer than desirable we hit the road at midnight.

I was fairly confident that walking 13 miles would be no bother to be so didn't bother with the vaseline all over the feet and failed to pack any bandaids. Sure I'd ran a half-marathon last year - this would be a doddle.

Not so sadly - turns out walking for 4 and a half hours is actually pretty tough. Especially when it's around the rather hilly city of Edinburgh. By mile 9 my feet were starting to seriously blister and if it wasn't for the compedes generously donated by more organised walkers (ie Mark's Mum) I would have been a gonner.

As it was I was thoroughly wrecked by the time we finished in broad daylight back at Inverleith park. How the other half of the crowd kept going for another 13 miles to do the full marathon I have no idea. Getting into bed at 5am was one of the happiest memories I have in recent times--following only the memory of getting into a hot bath the following day. Bliss.

We finished off the hen with a glorious 4 hour dunch (that meal between lunch and dinner) in the wonderful Brown's on George's St in Edinburgh on the Sunday. Exhausted but happy we wore our yellow medals boastfully only to be out done when a another table of women arrived in wearing the pink medals of the full marathoners. If anyone deserved a good meal that day those ladies did.

After several weeks lazing about Dublin, Galway beckons once again - the Scots invade this weekend and thus the epic 2 week long wedding commences. Don't say the Dobbyns do things by halves.

I intend to soak up as much Arts Festival merriment as possible while still playing the dutiful bridesmaid. Tickets for Bon Iver, Furioso and A Midsummer Night's Dream have already been procured.

Will attempt to report/review when time allows.