Up to 20,000 supporters are expected to gather in Pearse Stadium on Monday for the homecoming of the Galway minor and senior hurling teams.
GAA officials expect the teams – win or lose – to arrive by bus in Salthill at 6pm for a “family atmosphere” evening of entertainment.
The city is already in ‘carnival mode’ – awash with maroon and white flags, bunting and painted buildings.
And Galway City Council is backing the initiative shown by many business owners, but with the reminder that flags and banners should be taken down within a week of Sunday’s finals.
“Galway City Council are delighted that the Galway hurlers have gotten as far as they have, and we fully back the teams in Croke Park and look forward to a triumphant return on Monday.
“We are delighted the city of Galway has joined in celebrating the achievements so far. There are regulations in relation to what you can put up [flags etc] and what can be done.
“We’re not spoilsports, but no matter what the result, within about a week, everything should be taken down again.
“Three years ago, there wasn’t the same atmosphere around. The city is showing great community spirit and civic pride – we’re the friendliest city in the world, and we embrace all aspects of culture, including the great tradition of hurling, ahead of the European Capital of Culture 2020 bid,” a Council spokesperson said.
For the homecoming on Monday, Michael Larkin, Galway Hurling Board Chairman said the teams will come to Galway by bus, leaving Dublin at 1pm.
At 3.15pm or 3.30pm, there will be a stop-off in Ballinasloe, before the teams leave for Pearse Stadium with an expected arrival time of 6pm.
The matches on Sunday are set to be screened on a three-metre wide screen in Eyre Square.
The Galway City Business Association has been given permission to park EZ Living Furniture’s mobile big screen on the green at the bottom (Meyrick side) of the Square.
The event’s licence application to the Council is for a gathering of up to 1,000 people.
For lots more on the All-Ireland Finals, as well as a 32-page supplement, see this week’s Galway City Tribune
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