Galway oyster and seafood festival crowned Europe's second best summer food festival
Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival was named the second Best Summer Food Festival in Europe by Big 7 Travel.
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The Irish Sun
06-08-2025
- The Irish Sun
The Irish island named one of best in world with soaring cliffs, dolphins, basking sharks & watersports
TAKE a look at the Irish island voted one of the world's best – and it features soaring cliffs, dolphins, basking sharks and water sports. Achill Island in County Mayo is the perfect place to visit this summer. 4 Achill Island is a breathtaking spot located of Ireland's west coast Credit: Andrea Pistolesi 4 It's become a favourite among surfers and hikers globally Credit: Alamy 4 And it is home to some of the country's most fabulous beaches. Credit: Alamy Linked to the mainland by a short bridge, the island is known as one of the most rugged and scenic areas along the Wild Atlantic Way. Achill is nestled off the Mayo coastline and offers visitors endless views of mountains, sea cliffs and Atlantic waters. It has recently been voted in eighth place on the top ten islands globally by Big 7 Travel, along with being named one of the most beautiful by Condé Nast and Lonely Planet. Attracting thousands of tourists each year, it is known for its peaceful bays, open roads and towering sea cliffs that are some of the highest in Europe. The tourist hot-spot is home to several Blue Flag beaches, including Keem Bay and Keel Beach. Visitors to Achill are greeted by breathtaking views at every turn, from the dramatic cliffs at Croaghaun to the rolling hills of Slievemore. The island's winding roads make it perfect for a scenic drive or cycle – with cliff-top routes offering views that stretch across the ocean. What's more, Achill is just an hour away from Westport - one of Mayo's most popular towns known for its food, music and vibrant pub scene. Achill also offers a ton of opportunities for outdoor activities. This stunning spot is a favourite for surfers, swimmers, hikers and cyclists – and it has a long tradition of Irish language and culture with it being a Gaeltacht area. 'It's very important' - Ryanair's 'baggage sizers' warning to Irish passengers ahead of busy Easter break amid €75 fine And there is plenty of wildlife including seabirds, seals, basking sharks and dolphins often spotted off the island's wild coastline. Visitors can enjoy peaceful coastal walks, try watersports, or explore the haunting ruins of the Deserted Village at Slievemore. LOTS TO EXPLORE There is a lot more to explore with small villages dotted across the island. Croaghaun Mountain is situated to the west of the island, measuring 668m, while Slievemore is the highest mountain on Achill measuring 671m and Minaun measures 466m. Kildawnit Castle, a 15th century tower house and once home to Grace O'Malley, the Pirate Queen, is located on the southern tip of the island. Also on the south coast are the architectural Cathedral Rocks. The island has attracted many famous writers including German Nobel Prize winner Heinrick Boll, painters including Paul Henry, Derek Hill, Charles Lamb and Robert Henri. The Dánlann Yawl Art Gallery in Tóin Ré Gaoth offers a range of painting experiences and courses. RANGE OF EVENTS There are a range of events on the island including The Yawl Races which renews the ancient traditions of the wooden sailing craft. Achill Island has a great choice of accommodation including small hotels, hostels, self-catering holiday homes, guesthouses, B&B's and campsites. You can also explore the surrounding areas on horseback, or do some golfing in the golf club with nine-hole links.
Irish Daily Mirror
29-07-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish island named as one of the 'most beautiful' in world
Ireland's picturesque Achill Island has landed itself a spot on a list of most beautiful islands in the world. The Mayo island beat the volcanic Greek island of Milos and Thailand's stunning Koh Lipe to take the number eight spot on The 50 Best Islands in The World from Big 7 Travel. With destinations from across the globe, the list celebrates unique island experiences and inspiring places to explore in 2025. This year's ranking highlights a mix of trending destinations, remote escapes and iconic favourites. The list is based on aggregated scores from previous media results, contributions from the Big 7 Travel editorial team, destination popularity on social media, and destinations capturing travellers' attention in 2025. Achill Island, Co Mayo Here is the 2025 top 10 list: Sri Lanka Mo'orea, French Polynesia Socotra, Yemen Madeira The Galapagos, Ecuador Great Exuma, Bahamas Seychelles Achill Island, Ireland Koh Lipe, Thailand Milos, Greece Big 7 Travel Editor Aleyna Yilmaz told the Irish Mirror: "Achill, with its wind-whipped Atlantic coastline, moss-green hills, sheltered bays, and incredible sea wildlife, earns its spot on Big 7 Travel's guide to The 50 Best Islands in the World. "You might not find swaying palm trees or guaranteed sunshine here, but you will find pristine beaches — Keem Bay is often named among the world's best — and the rare luxury of unhurried calm." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
RTÉ News
11-06-2025
- RTÉ News
Two Irish food festivals make list of Europe's best food fests
Galway's celebrated Oyster and Seafood Festival has been voted the second best summer food festival in Europe in a new list. Big 7 has released their list of the top 25 Summer Food Festivals in Europe, with the Galway festival securing the no. 2 spot. Big 7 is a travel site and media company that specialises in rounding up the best experiences, food and drink spots and activities around the world. Drawing from recommendations and tips from readers, the editorial team also add in their contributions, curating a selection of 'best of' lists across food, travel and more. Running this year from 26 to 28 September, the Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival was founded in 1954 to coincide with the annual oyster harvest and is the oldest oyster festival in the world, as well as one of the longest-running food festivals in Europe. A highlight of the festival is the annual Oyster Opening or 'Shucking' Competition, which sees more than 20 competitors, representing countries from all over the world flock to Galway to vie for the World Championship title. As well as this, the city is lit up with parades, demos and more over the last weekend of September. COMPETITOR INTRO - Denmark, Jesper Knudsen 🦪 Welcome back, Jesper! Jesper has won the Danish Oyster competition for 11 years in a row! He also won the World Oyster Opening Championship in 2013, will he do it again? Catch him in action on Sat 28th of September 🤩 #GIOSF2024 — Galway Oyster Fest (@galwayoyster) August 20, 2024 "Sling back oysters by the bucketload, enjoy the toe-tapping trad music, and watch the masters at work – all set against the backdrop of the wind-whipped Atlantic coast", the editors of Big 7 write. Taste of Dublin, which takes place 12-15 June, was also named on the list, coming in at no. 23. The annual festival, which takes place in Merrion Square, celebrates the best food producers and chefs in the country and is an excellent opportunity to try new things. "Festival goers can pick up tips and tricks from demonstrations and panel discussions with top chefs, as well as take part in hands-on classes and tastings", Big 7 writes. "There's also a gorgeous slice of the Mediterranean in the Tasting Spain corner – sample meats, cheeses, olive oil, and tapas, and learn from the best with masterclasses and expert wine tastings." The Sardine Festival in Portimão, Portugal nabbed the top spot, a lively celebration of the humble sardine that promises stalls selling local handicrafts, street artists, and live music. Almo do Vinho in Alenquer, located just 35 minutes from Lisbon, was ranked third on the list. This festival celebrates the region's wine producers, with guests free to come meet winemakers and indulge in grape-stomping competitions, wine-barrel rolling races, jewellery-making workshops, traditional folk dances and more. Read the full list of festivals below: The Sardine Festival – Portimão, Portugal The Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival – Galway, Ireland Almo do Vinho – Alenquer, Portugal Maschseefest – Hannover, Germany Stragusto Food Festival – Trapani, Italy Napoli Pizza Village Festival – Naples, Italy Fête de l'Ail Rose – Lautrec, France Fistiki Festival – Aegina, Greece Istrian Pasta Festival – Žminj, Croatia Gladmat Food Festival – Stavanger, Norway Lymington Seafood Festival – Lymington, England Foodies Festival – Across the United Kingdom Sarajevo Street Food Market – Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival – Loch Lomond, Scotland Copenhagen Cooking Festival – Copenhagen, Denmark Cycladic Gastronomy Festival – Sifnos, Greece La Tomatina – Buñol, Spain Abergavenny Food Festival – Abergavenny, Wales Aarhus Food Festival – Aarhus, Denmark Trøndelag Food Festival – Trondheim, Norway Taste of London – London, England Bordeaux Wine Festival – Bordeaux, France Taste of Dublin – Dublin, Ireland Bite of Amsterdam – Amsterdam, Netherlands Matstreif – Oslo, Norway
