Return of ‘RAG Week’: Is it back for good?   

RAG Week made its return to Galway last week, raising €22,000 for local charities with minimal incidents reported. 

RAG, or ‘Raise and Give’, is a week-long fundraiser that is often accompanied by a week-long party. In Galway, this was the first RAG Week sponsored by the University in thirteen years, after the tradition was scrapped in 2011 in the wake of a string of alcohol-induced incidents.  

“It was a mindblowing success,” said Students’ Union (SU) President Dean Kenny. SU leadership was pleasantly surprised with the turnout for RAG Week. “I think because it had been so long without an official RAG Week, we didn’t know what to expect,” he said.

Bracing for Impact 

Despite its reputation for debauchery, few incidents were reported on campus or in town according to Galway Gardaí.

In anticipation of RAG Week, the wider Galway community took precautions to keep young people safe.

Galway’s volunteer organisation Claddagh Watch expanded its operations to account for the added mayhem during RAG Week. Claddagh Watch patrols Galway’s waterways on Friday and Saturday nights, responding to incidents and supporting those in distress during peak hours. 

“We’re out here every Friday and Saturday night, but we increased our patrols for the whole of RAG Week,” said Andreas Bluemlein, shift supervisor at Claddagh Watch. Volunteers were out every night last week, assisting anyone in need. 

“We helped one young lady who had been drinking heavily home safely,” said Mr Bluemlein. 

Several bars instituted policies to limit the number of students entering their businesses. Shop Street staples the King’s Head and the Quays enforced a strict 21 and up age limit. The West End’s Blue Note simply turned away anyone dressed for the event of the day. 

University of Galway’s student bar Sult enforced a strict ‘no over-serving’ policy. “Sult operates differently from places in town because they are under strict orders not to over-serve and they are under less pressure to turn a profit,” said Mr Kenny. 

Mr Kenny also attributed the lack of incidents to the work of the Student Safety Watch, a new initiative piloted by SU Vice President for Student Welfare Izzy Tiernan. As part of this pilot program, student volunteers monitor areas in and around campus to support students who may find themselves in vulnerable or unsafe situations on nights out. 

Charity: What RAG Week is all About 

Mx Tiernan noted the support from the wider Galway community beyond the university gates. 

“We really tried to keep the focus of RAG Week on community and charity. I think that’s why we were able to keep incidents down,” said Mx Tiernan.

Mx Tiernan also explained that with RAG Week, this current SU administration is on track to raise the most money for charities in the history of the University of Galway, a success they do not take lightly.

All profits made during RAG Week will go to the Galway Rape Crisis Center and Cancer Care West.