Galway Advertiser 1994/1994_07_21/GA_21071994_E1_019.pdf 

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G A S G U I D E T OG O I N G S O N A N D G O I N G

O U T

Frightened Families Flee Ferocious O'Flaherties

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alwegians are very discerning when it c o m e s to parades. Y o u could, I suppose, say that we're a spoiled lot. Whereas in other towns and villages people are content with a band or t w o , a gaggle o f children wearing fancy dress and makeup, and a couple of

fair to say that the discriminating paradeattenders o f this town g a v e an unquali fied "Yea" to this marvellous spectacle that wound its way round Eyre Square and on to its conclusion in Dominick Street. 'Tribes" took its inspiration from the

floats - a splendid sun from which yel low-gold pendants descended, held by beautifully-masked retainers o f the celestial orb; a flying teacup and saucer, surrounded by crea

And you could easily imagine yourself suddenly back in those medieval times because what w e saw were 14 gailydressed figures, walking at a stately pace, carrying placards with the various coats tures from outer space who sprayed wel of arms o f the Tribal families. Close c o m e bursts of cool water on the crowds; behind came the medieval city fathers t h e m s e l v e s , celebrating, perhaps, the election of one o f their number as mayor, quaffing goblets of wine, picking at dain ty meats, and generally behaving as if they were the splendid gentlemen they imagined themselves to be! But then w e saw a representation of the city gates, and one of the city towers, with men-at-arms standing anxiously above, scanning the horizon for trouble. And trouble is exactly what followed on as hordes of the "ferocious 0"Flaherties" suddenly appeared round the comer howling their Gaelic war-cries, swinging swords and dashing madly at the city gates. The battle was joined and w e watched as swords clashed and swordthrusts were exchanged as the O'Flaherties savoured this long-delayed opportunity for revenge!

b rigade of M s Mops, complaining about the m e s s "those O'Flaherties always leave behind them!" T o finish theings off w e had the sinuous Macnas serpents, twisting and turning to the bang of drums, and then...it w a s gone. The parade made its way down through the

Padraic marshals the floats, w e Galwegians have become used to parades that are something special. And why is this? Because w e ' v e got Macnas, that's why. Last Sunday, a glorious sunny Sunday, with a Sun that radiated real heat down on this normally rainy, chilly, wind swept town, the people of Galway - an estimated 5 0 , 0 0 0 of them - came out to take the measure of this year's parade, 'Tribes", and judging by the number o f happy faces on both young and old, it's

troops and a lovely silver moon, which, in keep ing with m o d e m stress on equality, fea tured not the "man" in the moon, but a woman (which makes more sense if you

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famous 14 tribes of Galway - the Blakes and Bodkins, Frenches anAthys, D'Arcys and Martyns - w h o once ruled the roost back in the 16th and 17th cen turies. They were a pretty snooty lot, and took a dim view of their "wild Irish" next-door neighbours - the O'Flaherties and operated a kind o f Anglo-Irish "apartheid", closing the gates on these Connemara "crusties", and doing every thing in their power to keep them in their place.

hen it was over, and bringing up the rear to clean up the m e s s and put out the fires - who that was there on Sunday will ever forget the superb fireworks display and the launch of hundreds of black balloons into the sky, bewildering birds and per plexing any pilots foolhardy enough to be flying over Galway at that moment? -

Trish F o r d e T r a n s f o r m e d centre of town, up Dominick Street, and into the dreams of the milling thousands w h o knew they had just been treated to another wonderful spectacle conjured

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ast Sunday the "ferocious C F l a h e r t i e s " got their o w n back. The parade began from Bohermore and as the different floats passed down towards Richardson's Corner to make the circuit of Eyre Square, the crowds strained for ward to get as close a look as they could before being shepherded back to the curb by Macnas stewards, w h o deserve a big vote o f thanks for undertaking a thank less j o b , and the B i g Man himself, Padraic Breathnach. We saw first a lovely, floating sheet of material carried by boys and girls that represented the old sea-based semi-state of medieval Galway - hookers bobbing on the bay, escorted by swans. Following this came a children's band, with our old friends, the Fir B o l g s booging along. We were treated to a succession of brilliant

The " f e r o c i o u s O ' F l a h e r t i e s " l a u n c h t h e a t t a c k think about it anyway!) Then the first group illustrating the parade's theme of the 'Tribes'"' made its entrance. there appearened Little John N e e riding atop a fiie engine, spraying the crowds with more w e l c o m e water, followed by a out o f the bustling imagination o f Macnas. A wonderful parade. A wonder ful day. A wonderful Festival.

Wondering eyes

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