The dismal weather of the
weekend put a minor damper on the annual International Oyster Festival
and affected some of the outdoor events but the general enthusiasm was
as great as ever and the capacity attendance had a stronger international
flavour than many previous festivals.
It was a festival to remember
for young Willie Moran of The Weir, Kilcolgan, and there
have been few more popular winners of the International Oyster Opening
Championship since the competition was launched.
He has been "knocking
on the door" for nearly a decade and made it a grand slam this time
by winning the Irish Championship the previous night.
There was an impressive
international entry for the championship vindicating the decision of some
years ago to inaugurate it.
Oyster opening champions
and "Shuckers" (the American term for the same skill) came from
Switzerland, Brittany, America, Canada, Austria, Ireland and France. For
the first time two womens competitors struck a blow for womens lib by
competing in the Irish Championship.
The
following were the results of the international championship: