Galway International Oyster Festival
Encyclopedia
The Galway International Oyster Festival is a food festival
held annually in Galway
during September, the first month of the oyster
season. Inaugurated in 1954, it was begun by Great Southern Hotel manager, Brian Collins, and in 2000 was described by the Sunday Times
as "one of the 12 greatest shows on earth" and was listed in the 1987 AA Travel Guide one of Europe's Seven Best Festivals.
The reason why the International Oyster Festival began is all from the worries of a hotel manager. Brian Collins was the manager of the Great Southern Hotel, he was questioning himself about how he would be able to extend the tourist season through the month of September. The head chef of the hotel and Brian had discussed having oysters put into the menu since they were in season. Brian Collins realized that by not just adding oysters to the menu but having an oyster festival would surely increase tourists to their hotel. Therefore Collins decided to take the Clarinbridge Oyster Festival and hold it in Galway City.
The main events are two Oyster Opening Championships, the Guinness Irish Oyster Opening Championship and the Guinness World Oyster Opening Championship. Other events include a beauty pageant to select the Oyster Pearl, and a 'Mardi-Gras' Party. Guests of Honour at this event have included television presenter Gay Byrne
, retired Taoiseach
Charles Haughey
, and international snooker player, Ken Doherty
.
Food festival
A food festival is a festival, usually held annually, that uses food, often produce, as its central theme. "These festivals have always been a means of uniting communities through celebrations of harvests and giving thanks for a plentiful growing season...
held annually in Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
during September, the first month of the oyster
Oyster
The word oyster is used as a common name for a number of distinct groups of bivalve molluscs which live in marine or brackish habitats. The valves are highly calcified....
season. Inaugurated in 1954, it was begun by Great Southern Hotel manager, Brian Collins, and in 2000 was described by the Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (UK)
The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper, distributed in the United Kingdom. The Sunday Times is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International, which is in turn owned by News Corporation. Times Newspapers also owns The Times, but the two papers were founded...
as "one of the 12 greatest shows on earth" and was listed in the 1987 AA Travel Guide one of Europe's Seven Best Festivals.
The reason why the International Oyster Festival began is all from the worries of a hotel manager. Brian Collins was the manager of the Great Southern Hotel, he was questioning himself about how he would be able to extend the tourist season through the month of September. The head chef of the hotel and Brian had discussed having oysters put into the menu since they were in season. Brian Collins realized that by not just adding oysters to the menu but having an oyster festival would surely increase tourists to their hotel. Therefore Collins decided to take the Clarinbridge Oyster Festival and hold it in Galway City.
The main events are two Oyster Opening Championships, the Guinness Irish Oyster Opening Championship and the Guinness World Oyster Opening Championship. Other events include a beauty pageant to select the Oyster Pearl, and a 'Mardi-Gras' Party. Guests of Honour at this event have included television presenter Gay Byrne
Gay Byrne
Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...
, retired Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Charles Haughey
Charles Haughey
Charles James "Charlie" Haughey was Taoiseach of Ireland, serving three terms in office . He was also the fourth leader of Fianna Fáil...
, and international snooker player, Ken Doherty
Ken Doherty
Ken Doherty is an Irish professional snooker player. He is the only player ever to have been world amateur and world professional champion...
.