North Atlantic Skyline - - Photographs from the west of Ireland (Galway, Mayo, Clare, Limerick, Roscommon and even Leitrim)

Under a dark cloud

rain clears over Achill Island, Co. Mayo.

RTE reported that Galway was flooded last night due to heavy rain. The rain in Galway was astounding, even for the west. So much water fell that the drains were quickly inundated, probably because there were blocked with rubbish - another downside of Ireland's Dirtiest City.

I found myself in Galway city in Sunday evening, having a cup of tea in The Living Room. Preparing to leave, I glanced at my watch. Seven o'clock. Why was that significant? An image flashed into my mind…of a sign in the car park where I had left my car. A sign that said This car park closes at seven o'clock sharp. SHITE. I ran for it. The reason I had parked there, as opposed to the 24hour car park at the other end of the street was that it was marginally closer to where I was originally going, and I figured, given the monsoon-like conditions, the hundred yards or so might make a difference. It certainly did.

I ran all the way in torrential rain. As I approached, I could see that the carpark was still open. SPLOOOSH. As I stepped from the footpath, I hadn't noticed that the road had filled with water to the kerb (I was watching for oncoming traffic) - the water was shin-deep. I waded across, ran into the foyer where the pay machines were located and pushed my ticket into the slot. The machine promptly spat it out - the screen displayed the message "Unrecognizable ticket". I tried again - same result. Why? BECAUSE I WAS IN THE WRONG BLOODY CARPARK. In my panic, I had gone to the 24 hour park at the other end of the street. I legged it up the street, (it was still teeming) but the doors were closed. There was a number to ring. For 40 euro, the security company would open the doors of the carpark and let you out. I rang it. I was put through to a centre in dublin - the guy there rang the Galway contact and relayed the message back. "He'll be half an hour - wait by the entrance".

There's a rumour that Stephen Hawkings was going to write an extra chapter to his book "A Brief History of Time" dealing with the concept of the Irish "half an hour", along with the Irish "I'll ring you back in five minutes" and not forgetting the Irish "I'll be around first thing in the morning to fix that". It nearly drove him mad, and poor Stephen was last seen in Stringfellows ogling women with Colin Farrell.

I waited and waited. In the rain. It got colder and darker. I got wetter. Half an hour passed. Forty minutes passed. Three quarters of an hour passed. I rang the number again. "Oh, he on his way…bit of flooding…diversions…". I rang Herself. There was no sympathy, though she did not laugh. Out loud, anyway. Yer man arrived eventually. Money changed hands. I drove off at nine o'clock, a mere two hours after that bloody cup of tea. On the way home, I stopped in a SuperMacs.

"What will you have, sir? "
"Anything that was once a bullock or a spud. See the big bag over there ? Keep filling it until you can't lift it."
It was a night for comfort food……….

Posted by Monasette at July 21, 2003 10:38 PM | TrackBack