The Galway International Oyster Festival is a food festival held annually in Galway during September, the first month of the oyster season. Inaugerated in 1954, it was begun by Great Southern Hotel manager, Brian Collins, and in 2000 was described by the Sunday Times as "one the the 12 greatest shows on earth"^[1] and was listed in the 1987 AA Travel Guide one of Europe's Seven Best Festivals.^[2] A food festival is a celebration, usually held anually, that uses food, often times produce, as its central theme. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... Crassostrea gigas, Marennes-Oléron Crassostrea gigas, Marennes-Oléron Crassostrea gigas, Marennes-Oléron, opened The name oyster is used for a number of different groups of mollusks which grow for the most part in marine or brackish water. ... The Sunday Times is the name of several Sunday newspapers. ...

The main events are two Oyster Opening Championshipa, the Guinness Irish Oyster Opening Championship and the Guinness World Oyster Opening Championship. Other events include a beauty pagent 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.^[3] Gay Byrne Gabriel Mary Byrne, known as Gay Byrne and nicknamed Gaybo (born 5 August 1934) is an Irish broadcaster. ... The Taoiseach (plural: Taoisigh) or, more formally, An Taoiseach, is the head of government of the Republic of Ireland and the leader of the Irish cabinet. ... Charles Haughey (Irish name Cathal Ó hEochaidh; born on September 16, 1925), was the sixth Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland, serving three terms in office; 1979 to 1981, March 1982 to December 1982 and 1987 to 1992. ... Ken Doherty (born September 17, 1969) is an Irish professional snooker player. ...

References

1. ^ Keeble, Jim, "The Greatest Shows on Earth", The Sunday Times, 2000-01-16.
2. ^ History of the Festival. (HTML) Galway International Oyster Festival Website. URL accessed on 2006-05-04.
3. ^ Roll Call of previous Guests of Honour at the Oyster Festival. (HTML)

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External links

• Galway International Oyster Festival website