While the Full Tilt Poker UKIPT Galway Festival Main Event has just kicked off, the 60-event stop has actually been going strong for well over a week. It all began with the Galway Cup, which was won by Diarmaid Kennedy of Cork, Ireland.

Kennedy took home €12,380 and a FTOPS Main Event ticket (value $635) for the victory, and did so in style as members of the Cork City Goldrush Casino & Card Club were there to support him. That included Liz Kelly, who was actually playing nearby in Event #6 €40 No-Limit Hold’em where she ultimately finished second. Needless to say, club owner Derek Baker was proud of both Kennedy and Kelly and sweated both from the rail.

Gareth Chantler of the Full Tilt Poker Blog conducted a brief interview with Kennedy after the win.

GC: Can you talk about your patience at the table today?

DK: I just got dealt the right hands when it counts. People shoved into me twice when I had aces. Except for a few slips up I was picking the right spots.

GC: Tell us about your rail.

DK: They’re all from Cork, the best Friday night poker game in Munster [Cork's province]. Myself and Ian O’Flynn have been playing together for years.

To read the entire interview, click here.

Event #1 €135+€15 Galway Cup