Galway Gardaí Prepare For Unofficial Rag Week Celebrations

Gardaí in Galway are preparing for this year’s upcoming (and unofficial) RAG Week ‘celebrations’, which will take place next week from Monday 13 to Sunday 19 February.

Thousands of students from around the country are expected to attend RAG Week events around the city. The unofficial student week is infamous for its crowded events, such as early morning queues outside the Hole in the Wall on Eyre Street on ‘Donegal Tuesday’, where students don Donegal jerseys, pole climbing outside Supermac’s restaurant and on-campus parties.

Last year there were a total of 43 public order incidents during the event week, with ten alone on so-called Donegal Tuesday.

This year is set to be even more challenging with ‘Mayo Monday’ due to take place on February 13.

As they do every year for RAG Week, Gardaí will be adding extra patrols during the day and at night to deal with the public order and noise complaints.

Describing the week to The Galway Independent as a drain on Garda resources, a Garda spokesperson said, “There always is an increase in relation to public order incidents but there was only one serious incident last year which was assault causing harm which is a serious assault”.

RAG Week was officially disbanded by NUI Galway in 2011, with NUI Galway Students’ Union President Jimmy McGovern stressing that the Students’ Union plays “zero” part in any events held.

He added, “Like any other week of the year, we encourage students to stay safe and look out for one another.”

Students are being advised to take appropriate measures, look out for friends and be careful with their alcohol intake.

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