1. GalwayOysterand SeafoodExtravaganza
LaunchedinSeptember1954, still goingstrongafter60+ years.The GalwayInternational Oyster Festival
isone of the biggestonIreland’ssocial calendar,withmore than22,000 patronshappilyfeastingontons
of theirfamousnative oysters. Overthe last59 years,the Irish oysterfestival have drawnalotof media
attention.Gettingcoverage fromBonAppetitMagazine,BBCGoodFood,FoodAnd Wine Magazine,
Easy FoodMagazine,Time Magazine,Travel AndLeisure Magazine,Conde Nast,The New YorkTimes,
The SundayTimes,DailyMail,DailyTelegraph,Image Magazine, Fodor’s,The lonelyPlanetGuide and
manymore.
The SundayTimesdescribeditas“one of the 12 greatestshowsonearth” the festival achievedalisting
inthe AA travel guide asbeingone of Europe’ssevenbestfestivals.The festival isheldonthe verylast
weekend inSeptember,celebratingGalway’smassive yearlyoysterharvest.The oysterseasonspans
overthe monthsof SeptembertoApril.OriginallylaunchedandteamingupwithPaddyBurke’sBar,was
laterrelocatedtothe city centerof galwayinthe 1980’s. Growingbiggerinnumberwitheachpassing
year.Duringthistime The Irishand WorldOysterOpeningor‘shucking’Championshipsare alsoheld.Be
preparedfortop classentertainment,large streetparades,seafoodtrails forthe hungry,ample
celebratedhospitality,definitelythe place tobe to start new friendships,keepingthe flowof
champagne never-endingandwithoutthe whisperof adoubtan abundance of rich,creamy Irishstout.
Popularthingstodo ingalwayfor the whole family,come andexplore the GalwayCityMuseum –
Boastinggreatviewsof the Claddaghgoingtothe upperfloors.
Take your familyonthe CorribPrincessfora tour on the riverCorriband Lake,view Galwayfromthe
water.
Have a nice picnic,visitthe autographtree andstandon the humansundial.
Give MillenniumParkavisit,featuringaskateboardingareaforthe olderchildrenandaplaygroundfor
the little ones.
Go strollingalongthe promenade atSaithill.
Spenda day inPortumna,goand visitthe castle,the playgroundandlovelyForestPark.
Do the Nature Trail inBrigit’sGarden.
Dress-upinmedievalcostumesanddosome archeryatthe athenryheritage Centre.
Go and flya kite at RinvillePark,inOranmore andstopby the great playgroundandthe oldcastle
orchard.
Spendsome time afewhoursin HipkidzinBriarHill,itfeelslike anactivityversioninaplaystationgame
The Oysterfestival are proudlysponsoredbyWildAtlanticWay,Failte IrelandandMilestone Inventive,
one of the mostinternationallyrecognized IrishfestivalsafterStPatrick’sDay, itis alsothe world’s
longestrunningoysterfestival.All throughthe festival tantalizingeventsare plannedforthe enjoyment
of all.Ample foodie talksandplentytastingeventsinGalway’sbestrestaurants.There will be afestival
marquee,aMardi Grass style galaEventalso boastingplentyof familyactivities.Live Musiciansand
cookingdemonstrationsforyou.The Oysterfestival have welcomedoverhalf amillionpatronsandhave
