the Galway Revival

well I'm unsure of what to write about today, but it seems auspicious by the fullness of the moon that this weekend should have been as crazy as it was, and therefore blog-worthy. Although I may not write about anything that happened this weekend at all. It's been both good, bad and ultimately pretty much like many other weekends that have happened in the course of my time living in Galway. The biggest change which I just realized I want to blog about is Galway's new "Continental" Christmas Market. This is, despite what its detractors may say, the realization of the potential of Eyre Square as a central civic plaza; an amenity to be enjoyed by the good people of Galway and visitors alike, as opposed to a loitering ground for teenagers and drunks and an obstacle to walk around on one's way to the train station. I recall when, not long after I relocated to this city, the whole sorry saga of the "renovation" of Eyre Square was finally finished, prompting one local bigwig to remark in the local newspaper that Galway finally had a civic plaza to rival any European city (my own paraphrasing). Now I think that that statement is no longer wholly untrue, and this attempt to bring new life to the concrete misery of Eyre Square is an extremely important step forward in the revival of life in Galway. Galway has too many people with good intentions, but not enough people with the drive and determination to bring those ideas to fruition. I applaud those who brought this Market to the city, and only hope that this is not a once-off spark of genius, and we shall start making use of our civic areas for something other than a spot to hide our Buckfast bottles before going to a club.
And in conclusion, on the subject of the Market itself, it has an extremely cosy feel, and despite the chilly weather, all the lights, colours and delicious smells make it a lovely warm atmosphere. The mainstay of most of the stalls is food, and one can find a whole wide range of different foods, too many to describe, however I myself am quite taken with the traditional "Celtic Hog Roast", simple but delicious food. until I sample each and every one of the rest, I shall reserve judgement..
Hurrah for European intervention in Galway. Some see the economic bailout as a loss of sovereignty. This may be so, I don't blog about politics or economics. however, when any foreign tradition has this much charm, good cheer, and general advantages to offer, well I say why not?! And the tradition of the "Continental Christmas Market" is one that I for one hope will catch on in our country, and brighten up these dark days.
peace, love and prosperity
Dermo