The West is your oyster in late September

Fáilte Ireland, in conjunction with Diageo, is delighted to announce the launch of the Galway Music and Oyster Trail to complement the world renowned Galway International Oyster Festival line up. 

Following the success of the Streets of Galway Music Trail, which was developed as part of the Galway Stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race, it was decided to design a similar initiative for the Galway International Oyster Festival to encourage more visitors to the City of the Tribes for the festival and to get the city on board to participate fully in the world renowned festival.
 
The music trail is comprised of a comprehensive listing of entertainment in the pubs of Galway over the festive weekend and includes a great line up of FREE outdoor street performances at strategic locations around the city from Thursday to Sunday inclusively. Many of the participating bars, restaurants and hotels are offering FREE oysters to visitors over the weekend to add to their enjoyment of the festival.
 
Events such as the Oyster Festival have been the biggest business drivers for tourism this season and the community involvement and commitment required to promote and organise events is growing and building momentum throughout the country. Large festivals (such as the Galway and Kilkenny Arts festivals) and long standing events (such as the Connemara Pony Show and the Tullamore Show) have performed well this year. Galway was the scene of Ireland’s biggest event this year when the Volvo Ocean Race Stopover took place at the end of May and during early June.
 
Speaking at the launch of the Galway Music and Oyster Trail, Fiona Monaghan, General Manager of Fáilte Ireland in the West, commented:
 
“We are delighted to be working with Diageo on this exciting new initiative which brings together the key tourism and hospitality businesses in Galway to enhance the world renowned Galway International Oyster Festival and to hopefully more visitors to our City for the upcoming festival. 
 
In these current challenging economic times, high profile festivals have played a very important role in stimulating demand for short breaks and the Galway International Oyster Festival has a very strong brand reputation and delivers visitors to Galway year on year at the end of September.  It is hoped with the introduction of the new Music & Oyster Trail that even more visitors will visit Galway for this year’s festival and to celebrate Arthur’s Day in the City of the Tribes.”
 
The 55th Galway International Oyster Festival, including the Music & Oyster Trail, is being heavily promoted to attract increased visitors to Galway for this year’s festival. 180,000 copies of the Festival Programme are being distributed around the country over the next few days through the Irish Times and a series of regional papers.
 
The initiative is a great example of collaboration between key industry partners in Galway all coming together to present Galway and the Galway International Oyster Festival as a compelling place to visit.  The pubs, restaurants and accommodation sector in Galway have all come onboard with Fáilte Ireland, Diageo and Galway International Festival to kick start this new initiative.
 
Kevin Whelehan, Sales Manager with Diageo Ireland, said:
 
“As we head towards Thursday 24th September, and the highly anticipated Arthur’s Day celebrations, anticipation is building in bars and pubs all over Galway. The Arthur’s Day celebrations, which will begin in Ireland at 17:59, with a global toast to Arthur Guinness, will see thousands of people across the globe come together to experience live music events.  Over 30 Pubs across Galway will host live music and there will also be live on street sessions in 5 different locations from Thursday through Saturday, Oysters and Guinness will be the main attraction in over 20 Pubs and all Galway hostelries are joining forces to commemorate the great man himself! 
 
We cannot underestimate the remarkable (voluntary) work carried out by Brian O’Higgins and his team on the Oyster Festival Committee - Galway owes them a huge amount of gratitude for their dedicated work and tireless contribution. It’s also a pleasure to work with all the team in Fáilte Ireland. So, as we celebrate 55 years of the Galway Oyster Festival  let’s not forget to celebrate 250 Remarkable Years of Guinness.”


ENDS


Photograph attached - Pictured launching the Galway Music and Oyster Trail are Fiona Monaghan, General Manager of Fáilte Ireland West; Kevin Whelehan, Sales Manager - Diageo Ireland; Anthony Ryan, Chairman - Galway International Oyster Festival and John Concannon, Director of Regional Development at Fáilte Ireland.  
 
A pdf of the festival programme is attached. 


For further information please contact:

Louise Tolerton 
Press Officer - 086 6086578/01 8847135
 

Note for editor

Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, was established in 2003 to guide and promote tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy.
 
The tourism and hospitality industry employs an estimated 250,000 people and generates more than €6 billion in revenue a year.

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