Recession and water fail to dampen Oyster Festival

THE city’s water crisis and the downturn in the economy internationally was not too far away from this year’s Galway Oyster Festival, but that did not stop the fun and colour which makes it one of the most popular dates in the social calendar. Organisers were blessed with good weather for the weekend which showcased the city at its best for the multitude of international visitors who attended the three-day event.Among them were TV crews from Poland, the USA and, for the first time, China, whose staff said that they had a potential audience of more than 300 million people.The festival kicked off on Friday evening with a banquet for 600 people in the marquee. Mayor of Galway, Cllr Padraig Conneely, was unable to attend due to meetings concerning the city’s latest water crisis, so the Mayor of Bradford, who was a guest of the City Council, officially opened the festival.Saturday began with the usual parade through the city at 12noon, which was led by the Claddagh School Band. The highlight of the festival, though, took .....