The annual Galway Hospitality Industry Ball kicked off the 2017 season of soirées in the West with a glittering black tie gala hosted at Salthill’s landmark The Galway Bay Hotel.
Among the 170 guests were head of the Wild Atlantic Way Fiona Monaghan, National President of the Irish Hotels Federation Joe Dolan, IHF Galway Chair Rory Fitzpatrick, The Ardilaun Hotel’s Managing Director John Ryan and Galway City Mayor Noel Larkin.
This year’s guest of honor Connacht Rugby head coach Pat Lam made quite the entrance, flying in directly from Bristol where he’ll be taking up a new coaching position once the Connacht season comes to a close. In a heartfelt speech, Pat spoke of how humbled he is by support of the people of Galway and of course the hospitality industry who have always supported Connacht Rugby so generously.
He bid farewell by getting everyone in the room on their feet to teach his hilarious dance to ‘Rock the Boat’, proving that his swift footwork isn’t just limited to the rugby pitch!
MC for the evening was Galway Bay FM’s Keith Finnegan and this year’s beneficiary Radiothon 2017, a charity fundraising collaboration between Galway Bay FM, Galway Hospice foundation and Cancer Care West raised over €2,000 on the night.
Guests danced late into the morning to live music by The Good Hustle band followed by a DJ.