Galway Advertiser 2008/GA_2008_06_12/GA_1206_E1_006.pdf 

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6 N E W S

www.galwayadvertiser.ie

June 12 2008

Will ye rent the tent? -- Saw Doctors put the pressure on Arts Festival for use of Big Top
BY KERNAN ANDREWS The Saw Doctors have got the goahead from the Galway City Council to hold concerts in Salthill on July 26 and 27, but the band hopes the shows may yet take place in the Galway Arts Festival Big Top. The Saw Doctors are celebrating 20 years on the road this year and the concerts are to celebrate that fact. Following the permission from City Hall to use Salthill Park for the two concerts that weekend, everything is ready to go. However the band still might not play Salthill and may opt to play the Big Top at the Fisheries Field instead - provided they get permission from the Galway Arts Festival. The final Big Top concert at this year's festival is The Dandy Warhols and Ash on July 25. The top will not be taken down until Monday 28. Docs' manager Ollie Jennings feels there is no point having a tent in Salthill and the Fisheries Field if the Big Top is inactive for two days prior to being taken down. It is understood that the band has made a "substantial commercial offer" to the festival to stage the concerts in the Big Top and is awaiting a response from the festival.

If we beat ye in this staring competition, will ye let us use the tent? -- Who'll blink first? The Sawdoctors hope to use the tent while it lies idle next month.

Eileen Finn Graham from Moran's the Weir and Zoe O Dea, Clarenbridge, at the launch of the 2008 Clarenbridge Oyster Festival. Details at St Clerans in Craughwell Co Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes.