Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival

Running since 1954, the Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival is widely considered one of the oldest continuously running oyster festivals anywhere in the world. Held each September to coincide with the start of the native oyster season, the festival centres on Galway Bay's own long oyster-harvesting tradition.

The undisputed highlight is the World Oyster Opening Championships, where competitors from around the globe race to shuck oysters as quickly and cleanly as possible, judged on both speed and presentation. The competition has become genuinely prestigious within the professional shucking world, drawing serious competitors rather than just enthusiastic amateurs.

Alongside the championships, the festival fills Galway with seafood stalls, live music and, naturally, no shortage of oysters paired with Guinness — a pairing locals will insist is the only correct way to eat them.