Shell-shocker Kylie may strut stuff at oyster fest

PEARLY pop queen Kylie Minogue has been invited to shell out at the Galway Oyster Festival.

The pint-sized star revealed recently she loves to tuck into a dozen oysters during her shows.

"We haven't heard from her, but we're keeping our fingers crossed," said festival PRO John Rabbitte. "If she loves her seafood, she'll love Galway we have the best oysters in the world."

More than 100,000 oysters will be supplied by local growers for the end-of-September event, which is scheduled to boost the city's coffers by 7m.

Festival director Anne Flanagan said 80% of the visitors are from overseas. Every continent, she said, is represented in the Guinness World Oyster Opening Championship. Expert contestants from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Russia, Singapore and the USA will be among the dozens of hopefuls battling to open 30 oysters in the shortest time.

The organisers, meanwhile, are appealing for more girls to contest the 2002 Oyster Pearl competition. The winner, who will be the festival ambassador for the next 12 months, will be judged at a banquet gala hosted by RTÉ's Marty Whelan.

The city will also host a magnificent Mardi Gras party during the September 26-29 event.

Ms Flanagan said the festival was internationally-renowned for its fun, food and tradition.

"You need stamina and a good liver to enjoy all the events," she said.

The event was launched in 1954 to promote and marketing the local oysters dredged from Brandy Bay and Clarinbridge. The event's exposure has significantly enhanced the image of the Galway oyster, and local seafood merchants now export oysters to Singapore, London, Moscow and Paris.