DETAILS OF the 57th Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival were announced yesterday.
Taking place September 23rd-25th, the festival attracts more than 10,000 visitors to the west every year with an expected €5 million economic injection generated during the three days.
Festival organiser Cian O’Broin said the familiar marquee will be seen on the Galway skyline again this autumn after a two-year absence. A new location using the Volvo Ocean Race Village on the docks has been chosen. Mr O’Broin hopes the move will encourage more local businesses to become involved.
The marquee will host the oyster-opening championships on Friday and Saturday as well as the festival finale activities on Sunday.
Mr O’Broin hopes the parade on Saturday will take on more of an active, engaging character than in years past, becoming more like the parades during the Galway Arts Festival held in the summer.
The Meyrick Hotel – of which Mr O’Broin is manager – will again function as the centre for functions. The hotel’s relationship with the festival dates back to the first festival, in 1954, when the manager of the hotel (then the Great Southern) first thought up the idea to help extend the tourist season in Galway.
Details at galwayoysterfest.com