An estimated 100,000 oysters will be consumed and about 10,000 pints of Guinness taken during the 52nd Galway International Oyster Festival this weekend.
The 2006 festival guest of honour will be Galway golfer Christy O'Connor Jnr.
More than 12,000 people are expected to attend the festival events, most of which take place in the huge festival marquee at Nimmo's Pier, as well as a number of city hotels.
With an increased entry of 18 countries, this year's event will bring an even larger number of international visitors to Galway and is estimated to be worth €7 million to the city.
Oyster opening champions from the 18 countries will vie for the prestigious Guinness World Oyster Opening Championship title on Saturday afternoon, which last year went to Norway.
This is the largest number of countries ever to take part in the competition and for the first time ever there will be entrants from South Africa and Slovakia.
Neil McNeilis, PRO of the festival, has promised an even bigger and better festival this year, and there has been a huge demand for tickets.
Leading today's festival parade will be this year's Oyster Pearl, Julie Foy, who will be joined by crew from the LE Aisling, the Naval Service patrol ship which celebrates 10 years of being adopted by the city of Galway.
