Pearl of a weekend at oyster festival
Monday September 28 2009
OYSTER festival revellers were last night dragging their weary bodies home after a spectacular weekend, paying homage to the west of Ireland mollusc.
Hundreds of visitors attended the 55th renewal of the end-of-season festival in Galway. Despite the recession, there was no shortage of takers for tickets to a host of gourmet events.
In a bid to keep overheads down, the festival committee this year abandoned the giant marquee at Nimmo's Pier in favour of the more sedate surroundings of the Radisson Blu Hotel. Yet, party-goers who chose to attend all of the weekend events weren't left with much change out of €350.
Guest of honour Ian Walker, who skippered the Irish entry in the Volvo Round the World Ocean Race, was the focus of attention as the annual Oyster Festival parade marched through the city streets.
The official opening at Eyre Square was only completed when Oyster Pearl Olga Linnane formally presented the first oyster of the season to mayor of Galway Cllr Declan McDonnell.
Michael Moran of Kilcolgan captured the Irish Oyster-Opening title and then made a brave bid for the international crown against a host of competitors from around the world.
Each finalist had to open a plate of oysters and present them to a panel of judges which included chef Richard Corrigan.
The title went to the Belgian entrant, Xavier Caille, who received his award to the acclaim of the huge audience.
- Brian McDonald
