The Man from Shiloh, or James Drury, spends his first visit to Ireland at the Galway races, writes Lorna Siggins Western Correspondent , in Ballybrit, Co Galway
HE'S BEST remembered as the "man in black" and as the cowboy with no name.
Wearing a 10-gallon Stetson and Texan boots, the legendary "Virginian" strolled into Galway city centre yesterday in time for the annual summer race festival.
He didn't have his buddy, Trampas, with him, nor did he have his "hoss". As for a gun or lassoo - well, neither might not go down too well with the "sheriff of Ballybrit", racecourse manager John Moloney.
However, even without the spurs, James Drury looked every inch "the man from Shiloh" as he relished the atmosphere. "I feel great energy here, great potential," the 74-year-old actor said of his first visit to the "real wild west".
In fact, it is his first Irish visit altogether, and he and his wife, Carl Ann, intend to celebrate their 29th wedding anniversary in Galway tomorrow.
Thursday, Ladies Day, is dedicated to the race festival, when many women of a certain age may throw caution - and hats or more - to the wind as they vie to touch his headgear. The couple also intend to visit the Drury family homestead in Frenchpark, Co Roscommon, where grandfather James Drury was reared before emigrating to Staten Island in the US.
Some of the Ballybrit jockeys may be a mite too young to remember, but Drury is credited with one of the most demanding horse-riding roles in "cowboy 'n injun" history, having starred in 249 episodes of the television dramatisation of The Virginian from 1962 to 1971.
The storyline involving the unnamed ranch manager, known only by his home state of Virginia, was based on the Owen Wister novel of the same name, published in 1902. TG4 is currently screening the entire series, five days a week, for cult followers and more.
Drury told The Irish Times how he had trained as a classical actor and played alongside some of the Hollywood greats, including Bette Davis, Robert Redford and Harrison Ford. "Bette Davis sort of adopted Trampas [played by the late Doug McClure] and me," he recalls, "but after Joan Crawford came on, she cut off all contact - the Crawford-Davis feud was one of the most publicised rows in Hollywood history and one of the greatest mysteries."
The mystery of Ballybrit's success will be explored by the actor's extended Irish family and up to 200,000 participants during a seven-day splurge which is expected to buck this season's trend of declining average attendances - and betting - at race festivals.
If some "high rollers" are taking a break, it has not dented Ballybrit's confidence, with broadcaster Hector Ó hEochagáin hosting an evening of sports stars last night. Galway football deity Pádraig Joyce and Munster and Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery were among the luminaries.
However, there were few sightings of politicians at this early stage, although any tentless and disoriented Fianna Fáilers have been assured that they will be made welcome. Shortly after Taoiseach Brian Cowen's much publicised decision to eschew the controversial party fundraiser at Galway this year, Aer Arann managing director Pádraig Ó Céidigh and the Galway GAA board stepped into the breach.
Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern was widely rumoured last night to be en route west to check out Ó Céidigh's tent pegs.
Thirteen English trainers have entered more than 60 horses for the event, representing the largest English entry yet for the Galway races. Prize-money is worth €2 million, while the meeting and associated activities, including late-night card games, will generate €60 million within the local economy, according to the cognoscenti.
Last night's opening race, the GPT Sligo Novice Hurdle, did not augur well for punters, with Hassanali, trained and jointly owned by Curragh-based Jim Gorman, winning at odds of 20/1.
Galway City Council has implemented a glass-free zone and litter-management plan in the city centre during race week for the second year in a row.
Bus Éireann is running shuttle buses between the Skeffington Arms hotel in Eyre Square and Ballybrit, for those who are bored with helicopter travel.
Today's racing starts at 5.10pm, with the feature being the Tote Galway Mile, valued at €160,000. Umbrellas and rain-gear are advised. The festival continues up to and including next Sunday.