Galway Oyster Festival

Month : September
Place : Galway, Ireland
Famous For : Food Festival
Attractions : Oyster Opening Championships, the Guinness Irish Oyster Opening Championship and the Guinness World Oyster Opening Championship, Oyster Pearl.

The Galway International Oyster Festival is a popular food festival held annually in Galway. It is an annual event held during the month of September, the first month of the oyster season. Tagged as "one of the 12 greatest shows on earth", the Galway International Oyster Festival was inaugurated in 1954 by Great Southern Hotel manager, Brian Collins. This food festival is also listed in the 1987 AA Travel Guide one of Europe's Seven Best Festivals.

Major Attractions

The Galway International Oyster Festival features events including two Oyster Opening Championships, the Guinness Irish Oyster Opening Championship and the Guinness World Oyster Opening Championship. Besides this, a beauty pageant to select the Oyster Pearl and a 'Mardi-Gras' Party at to its stature. Guests of Honor at this event have included television presenter, Gay Byrne, retired Taoiseach Charles Haughey, and international snooker player, Ken Doherty. The festivities set the stage for a worldwide gathering of expert oyster openers (shuckers) competing for a new Guinness World Record. Only one competitor can walk away with a world record, but there is plenty of Guinness to go around. Other highlights include the Oyster Festival Gala Ball, and an Elegant Lady competition. Of course, the juicy oyster is center stage through it all, yum.