Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival: a guide

The Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival is held every year on the last weekend of September, to mark the start of the native oyster season. The programme changes, so check the festival's own website for events and tickets before you travel.

What is the festival?

A weekend celebration of oysters and seafood in Galway, with tastings, seafood stalls, music and events. The native oyster season begins in September, and the festival marks the start. Visitors come to eat oysters at the source, watch a shucking competition if one is on, and enjoy the city's atmosphere.

What is a native oyster?

Ireland's native flat oyster, also called Galway Bay oyster, has a different taste from the farmed Pacific oyster you see most of the year. It is in season when there is an R in the month, in the traditional rule, and many people find its taste sharper and more mineral than the farmed kind. A festival is a good place to try both kinds side by side and compare.

What can you eat there?

Beyond oysters, expect fish and chips, chowder, mussels, crab, prawns and smoked fish from stalls and places to eat. Pair them with brown bread and butter, and a glass of stout or white wine if you drink. Look for stalls that open the oysters in front of you, and ask the person shucking for a recommendation.

How do you plan the weekend?

Book accommodation early. Galway is a small city, and the festival weekend is busy. Check which events need tickets and whether there is an entry charge to the main site. Plan some time to walk through the city, to the Spanish Arch and along the waterfront.

How do you get to Galway?

By train or bus from Dublin, or by car on the M6. Parking in the city centre fills quickly, so use a car park on the edge and walk. Check Irish Rail and Bus Éireann for weekend timetables.

Tips for eating oysters

Start with a plain oyster and a squeeze of lemon so you can taste it. Chew it once, rather than swallowing it whole. If you are new to oysters, order a half dozen, not a dozen. Check with the stall about allergies, and remember that raw shellfish is not suitable for everyone, including pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.

What else is there to do?

Galway has a lively arts and music scene. Walk Shop Street and Quay Street, hear a session in a pub and see the Claddagh. The festival weekend adds street entertainment and events.

What if you have dietary needs?

Seafood festivals are not easy for a shellfish allergy. Ask every stall about shared surfaces and oil. Food businesses must provide allergen information in Ireland, so you can ask what is in a dish.

How can Mosey help?

Mosey is a food-first app where diners find places by dish, mood and neighbourhood and rate what they actually ate. A festival page can say when it is usually held and link to the organiser's website, and a rating of a dish stays with the stall that cooked it. You can use the app to remember which oyster counter you liked.

How this works in the app: Food festivals.

More guides to read next:

• Savour Kilkenny food festival: what it is and how to visit
• How to book a table on Mosey and manage your bookings
• How to join a waitlist or a walk-in queue on Mosey

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