It’s Wednesday, mid week in the middle of the Summer Galway Festival,

There are thousands in the crowd enjoying Day 3 but two guys catch the eye

of RTE’s Six One News. Sean Monaghan and Dessie Curtis deep in conversation,

race programme in Sean’s hands. What they are chatting about is anyone’s guess

but it’ll surely be the topic of the next race or fishing on the Corrib won’t be far from

their conversation.

Both men are friends from Meath, in Kentstown and Balrath, Sean is now 91,

Dessie 83 both happy to make the trek west on a regular basis over the years.

In fact Sean has been going to the Galway Races for last 70 years and has only

missed the festival on three occasions in that time. As one of his son’s Caolach 

Monaghan remarks ”What a wealth of knowledge they have..” It says it all and

 pays testament to a racing festival that testament of traditions with people

of all ages who find the magnetism of the City of the Tribes every summer, particularly

race week. The literally land in their thousands some travelling from all over the world

or from the 32 counties to enjoy the festival and all that goes with it.

That passion for the week of Galway  Races also carries into the next generation with

Sean’s sons, also there on the day, Michael now based in Australia and Kenmare

and Meath based Barry and Caolach who runs the family businesses in Monaghan’s Bar

and shop in the thriving Kentstown village. They too, take time out to spend time in the West.

Meath connections do well on the day, with Noel Meade getting a brace of winners and winning

the Tote Galway Plate with Pinkerton and then the following race with Monasterboice back to back

Another man with a wealth of knowledge.