I visited Galway last summer. Damn fun town. That should be a really cool race.
Ok…no one tell my wife I even ASKED this question…but what would be the best way from Boston/NYC to Glaway…(I know, I know…airplane…I meant what airline/airports).
Boston to Shannon and about 80mile drive north of Shannon.
Is this a half or a full?
Jeff
It’s a 70.3.
I’d really consider signing up if it weren’t for the date. That’s a destination race and would want to bring the family. School would have already started for my son so that’s kind of out of the question.
Galway is a great town for partying I lived there for a few months… should be a good place for a race. Though the Irish think you’re a bit mental for doing anything sporty unless it’s gaelic football… pubs and guiness is the biggest sport there.
I see the article writer must of googled ‘Ironman’ images and found a surf lifesaving pic ha!??! Yes I think you’ll get a few people asking what a Triathlon is 
The water will be ice-cold.
The biggest issue will be bike transport. You’re quite likely to get your $5k bike literally tossed in to the “boot” of a cab, or under the carriage of a tour bus.
As was said above, the locals think you’re crazy if you do anything physical. Riding a tri-bike would be ludicrous to them. Bikes are for old women on lazy sunday rides with baskets & flowers & big fluffy seats.
Disclaimer: My first wife was Irish, and I lived there for years.
Actually things have changed in recent years. Running has been quite big for a while and cycling has become more so. A lot of small towns (smaller than Galway) have crit racing weekly during the summer. People swim and have swam in Galway Bay year round forever and that is accepted as being normal. And yes, the water will be cold.
I am biased as I was born in Galway (but have lived in Canada for 25 years), and Salthill is my part of Galway, and I’d love to do this race.
As for the bike, well I’d prefer to rent a car and put it in the boot myself.
“Boot”–that is the trunk, right? I can see I will have to learn a new language if I go do this race.
It is said that America and Ireland are two countries separated by a common language.
Don’t worry slowtwitchers, believe it or not the Irish have actually heard of exercise beyond the door of the pub and even Triathlon! Considering that the 2010 ITU European Championships were held down the road in Athlone, that the Connemarathon (1/2, full and Ultra) is a massive road running event in Galway and that the Volvo ocean series recently stopped off attracting massive crowds, I think the days of paddy capped farmers looking bemused at “eejits” on bikes is a thing of the past.
Needless to say, if you’re looking for a country and more importantly community that really gets behind a race to create a unique atmosphere then this is going to be it. Ask all the ITU pro’s who raced in Athlone, the atmosphere is nothing short of Rabid in Ireland as we love our sport and aren’t shy of shouting it!
The water will be grand, probably around 16c, the weather will be either amazing or terrible but that’s Ireland!
More importantly the post race party will be epic!
Do it.
P.S. - Flying into Shannon or Dublin will suffice. AerLingus fly direct from NYC, Boston etc. Dublin airport is now linked by motorway to Galway city. 2hr journey from East to West Coast so if Shannon flights aren’t feasible then Dublin is an easy alternative.
This race has made my radar. After IM TX in May 2011, a trip to Ireland for a 70.3 will be perfect. Looking at flights now.
Thanks
Boston to Shannon and about 80mile drive north of Shannon.
X2…done it.
The water will be grand, probably around 16c, the weather will be either amazing or terrible but that’s Ireland!
16C = 61F= Testing your Frosticles
Weather=Amazing/terrible = 5%/95%
Whiskey in your bike bottle is a legitimate option.
The Redheads are incredible.
More importantly the post race party will be epic! <<
Amen! What a fun race this could be. Galway is fantastic.
clm
Msn has this posted on their list of 12 places to avoid. At least the swim isn’t in the mentioned river.
http://www.bing.com/travel/content/search?q=Don’t+Go+There%3A+Galway%2C+Ireland&FORM=RQTRAV
Don’t Go There: Galway, Ireland Some cities have such poor water quality that it’s not even necessary to warn travelers, “Don’t drink the water.” (Mexico City comes to mind.) But Galway, Ireland? Who would think to drink only boiled or bottled water in Ireland? Rapid expansion and lax oversight have led to massive sewage pollution of the Corrib River, which has contaminated the city’s drinking-water supply
Don’t worry slowtwitchers, believe it or not the Irish have actually heard of exercise beyond the door of the pub and even Triathlon! Considering that the 2010 ITU European Championships were held down the road in Athlone, that the Connemarathon (1/2, full and Ultra) is a massive road running event in Galway and that the Volvo ocean series recently stopped off attracting massive crowds, I think the days of paddy capped farmers looking bemused at “eejits” on bikes is a thing of the past.
Needless to say, if you’re looking for a country and more importantly community that really gets behind a race to create a unique atmosphere then this is going to be it. Ask all the ITU pro’s who raced in Athlone, the atmosphere is nothing short of Rabid in Ireland as we love our sport and aren’t shy of shouting it!
The water will be grand, probably around 16c, the weather will be either amazing or terrible but that’s Ireland!
More importantly the post race party will be epic!
Do it.
P.S. - Flying into Shannon or Dublin will suffice. AerLingus fly direct from NYC, Boston etc. Dublin airport is now linked by motorway to Galway city. 2hr journey from East to West Coast so if Shannon flights aren’t feasible then Dublin is an easy alternative.
With the exception of gaelic football, hurling, soccer and rugby there is little tolerance for other sports by the general public in Ireland and even less support.
Connemarathon is a nice event but gets no support on the roads as its in the middle of nowhere, Dublin marathon gets feck all support for a city marathon and is viewed more as an inconvience due to the road closures by most.
September is the dry sunny month in Ireland alright.
(Yes I am Irish and I do live in Ireland)
Jacob, - I wouldn’t be too concerned about taking travel advice from Msn, it was something that happened last year with a waste treatment plant due to overpopulation. Drink bottled water instead of tap if you’re scared but the problem is dealt with. The swim is in the sea so it’d be fine. It has a blue flag (EU water standard quality benchmark) so is more than suitable for bathing. http://www.blueflag.org/Menu/Blue+Flag+beaches/marinas/2010/Northern+Hemisphere/Ireland/West/Salthill
DDave, you’re a real ambassador! I beg to differ on your perception that Irish people don’t get behind sporting events. Maybe you’re not that much of a Triathlon fan and missed the Triathlone ITU races in 2009 + 2010? That was some of the best support you’re likely to get at any event.
Your comments also remind of the Life of Brian sketch below…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExWfh6sGyso
Don’t worry slowtwitchers, believe it or not the Irish have actually heard of exercise beyond the door of the pub and even Triathlon! Considering that the 2010 ITU European Championships were held down the road in Athlone, that the Connemarathon (1/2, full and Ultra) is a massive road running event in Galway and that the Volvo ocean series recently stopped off attracting massive crowds, I think the days of paddy capped farmers looking bemused at “eejits” on bikes is a thing of the past.
Needless to say, if you’re looking for a country and more importantly community that really gets behind a race to create a unique atmosphere then this is going to be it. Ask all the ITU pro’s who raced in Athlone, the atmosphere is nothing short of Rabid in Ireland as we love our sport and aren’t shy of shouting it!
The water will be grand, probably around 16c, the weather will be either amazing or terrible but that’s Ireland!
More importantly the post race party will be epic!
Do it.
P.S. - Flying into Shannon or Dublin will suffice. AerLingus fly direct from NYC, Boston etc. Dublin airport is now linked by motorway to Galway city. 2hr journey from East to West Coast so if Shannon flights aren’t feasible then Dublin is an easy alternative.
With the exception of gaelic football, hurling, soccer and rugby there is little tolerance for other sports by the general public in Ireland and even less support.
Connemarathon is a nice event but gets no support on the roads as its in the middle of nowhere, Dublin marathon gets feck all support for a city marathon and is viewed more as an inconvience due to the road closures by most.
September is the dry sunny month in Ireland alright.
(Yes I am Irish and I do live in Ireland)
You didn’t need to add in the last line in your post. We could tell by your typical Irish cynicism.
Have you done Dublin Marathon? The support is pretty great. Ok I haven’t done NY or London but I was well impressed by Dublin. The last mile or two around trinity/grafton st/merrion square is electric. Isn’t the whole point of Connemarathon that it’s in the middle of nowhere, that there’s no masses of support. It’s just you, beautiful scenery and a tough course. That’s what makes it such a great event in my opinion.
TriAthlone was a massive success! http://www.youtube.com/...&feature=related and didn’t Brownlee say it was one of the best supported run courses he’s ever been on and that’s why he started high fiving people 400m from the finish because the roads were lined with people?
The atmosphere around Eyre Square at the finish will be electric! Hopefully you get to run up Shop st at the finish onto Eyre square, that would be awesome.
I can’t see there being much support on the bike course though. Wonder where the bike course will go. Surely it can’t get any real hills in, Galway’s too far from Maam’s cross isn’t it?
Edit: Also not arguing that other sports are as well supported or even close to gaelic football, hurling, soccer or rugby. However in America does anything come close to NFL/College football/NHL/Baseball/Basketball. No, yet they can still pull off some amazing events in other sports. The US even pulled off a great world cup!