Celebrating the finest shellfish, the Galway International Oyster Festival is on from the 27-29th of September. The festival a delicious mix of food & fun, a place where oysters aren’t the only ones coming out of their shells!
With shucking competitions, live music, and plenty of Guinness to go around, this is a weekend that combines the best of Ireland’s wild spirit and food! Get ready to celebrate all things oysters.
What’s On
The festival isn’t just about eating oysters—it’s about everything oysters. Traditionally, over the three days, the festival hosts the World Oyster Opening Championship, a Party of Champions, a Guinness and Oyster reception and an electrifying line up of top class artists, and an afternoon Marquee Reception (with more Guinness and Oysters). Here’s a taster of what you can expect:
The World Oyster Opening Championship
Saturday 28th September brings the core unmissable event, the World Oyster Opening Championship, commencing with a lively parade of competitors weaving its way through the narrow medieval streets of Galway City down to Nimmo’s Pier. Oyster openers from all over the world showcase their unique technique, talent, and precision as they battle it out through the intense excitement for the World title. It’s fast, furious, and fascinating!
Party of Champions
The ‘Party of Champions’ on Saturday evening is a highlight of the festival calendar where revellers and competitors gather to celebrate our newly crowned victor whilst enjoying oysters and bubbles all the while showcasing their best moves on the dance floor to a jam-packed live music programme. To avail of 10% off ticket prices for the Party of Champions, use the promotional code – THISISGALWAY24.
Oyster Tastings
Of course, the oysters are the stars of the show, and tastings throughout the weekend will offer you a chance to try some in their freshest form, locally sourced from Galway Bay. These oysters are known for their rich, salty-sweet flavor that’s unlike any other.
Féile Bia Na Mara – Family Fun Included!
Sunday is a family day of fun, workshops and talks and above all a celebration of the wonderful bounty of delicious seafood that can be found all along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Our festival kitchen has a jam packed programme of Cooking Demo’s from an impressive line-up of lauded local and national chefs. Come and learn about our local produce and pick up a few culinary tips to impress your loved ones along the way.
Live music will help you to unwind, take in the iconic views of Galway’s Long Walk and keep you entertained as you try to decide what to taste next; oysters, mussels, clams, fish tacos, smoked salmon? We suggest you arrive hungry and try them all!
The Seafood Trail
A Seafood Trail will be on, which is a selection of Galway’s best restaurants serving locally sourced ingredients & seafood; each restaurant will have Galway Oysters available from Thursday to Sunday during the festival. In total, the Seafood Trail involves 16 of Galway’s leading seafood establishments from McDonagh’s world-renowned seafood restaurant on Quay St, to the city’s best known oyster houses Tigh Neachtain.
You can find the list of participating venues here.
Additional Information & Tickets
The Galway International Oyster Festival takes place over this weekend, from September 27th to 29th in the Claddagh on Ninmo’s Pier.
- General Admission: Friday & Saturday are both ticketed days, and Sunday is free.
- World Oyster Opening Championship: Priced at €90, this pass gives you access to the championship.
- Party of Champions: Looking to celebrate in style? The Party of Champions tickets cost €55 and include a full evening of dining, dancing, and, of course, unlimited oysters!
- Weekend Packages: If you’re all in, consider a weekend package for €175 and offer full access to the festival’s top events, ensuring you don’t miss a single oyster (or pint!).
Ready to dive in? Visit galwayoysterfestival.com to get your tickets and plan your weekend!
