65th Oyster & Seafood Festival

September 27th to 29th 2019

Each year, on the last weekend of September, Galway City celebrates the Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival, the most internationally recognised Irish festival after St Patrick’s Day and the world’s longest running Oyster Festival.

Throughout the Irish food festival, there will lots of tantalising events for all to enjoy; seafood trails, oyster opening (shucking) championships including the Oyster ‘Olympics’ or World Oyster Opening Championship, foodie talks & tasting events in some of Galway’s best restaurants, The Festival Marquee, a Mardi Gras style Gala Event along with family activities, live music, cooking demonstrations and more.

Established in 1954, The Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival has welcomed over half a million visitors, consumed more than 3 million oysters – washed down with champagne and stout whilst listening to some of the best musicians in Ireland.

Friday Night

Date: 27th September 2019

Time: 19.00

Venue: Festival Marquee, Nimmo’s Pier, Galway City Centre

Live music, sensational seafood, mouth watering dining and the National Oyster Opening Championship will kick start the weekend’s celebrations. Beginning with the opening ceremony.

Saturday Night

The World Oyster opening Championship

Date: 28th September 2019 Time: 14.00 – 19.00

Venue: Festival Marquee, Nimmo’s Pier, Galway City Centre

A non-stop afternoon of entertainment and festival fun awaits; The World Oyster Opening Championship, the festival food village and live music.

Date: Saturday 28th September 2019 Time: 8pm till late

The Oyster & Seafood Festival Masquerade ‘Mardi Gras’ style event is where fine fare and fabulous finery come together as a carnival of masked revellers.

Sunday Night

Féile Bia Na Mara – WILD ATLANTIC TASTES Sunday September 29th 2019

Date: Sunday 29th September 2019

Venue: Festival Marquee, Nimmo’s Pier, Galway City Centre

Time: 12.00 – 19.00

Free Event

Seafood showcase with national chef demonstrations and family fun.

DISCOVER A “TASTE THE ATLANTIC A SEAFOOD JOURNEY”

Imagine a trail you can take, and taste.

The Bay Coast Seafood Trail is exactly that. Stretching south from Erris Co.Mayo to Connemara and on to Galway Bay, passing some of Ireland’s

most breathtaking seascapes and landmarks, it’s a whole new way to experience the Wild Atlantic Way.

This is a living, breathing coastal route. Dotted among the natural wonders are renowned producers including the Connemara Smokehouse, Croagh Patrick Seafoods, Killary Fjord Shellfish, Keem Bay Fish, Marty’s Mussels, Kelly’s Oysters and New Quay lobster fisherman Gerry Sweeney. These are family businesses with ocean in their blood, coastal communities with salt on their lips. They harvest top quality oysters, mussels, salmon and catch lobster and crab from pristine Atlantic waters. They process their catch with modern nous and time-honoured tradition. They turn the draw of the sea into deliciousness. So when you are exploring Bay Coast, make sure you visit one of the recommended seafood restaurants to enjoy a taste of the Atlantic and meet one of our local seafood producers to truly experience this seafood journey as pure a taste of place on a plate as you’ll find in Western Europe.