It’s that time of year again and the 2012 Carlingford Oyster Festival promises four days of Oysters, Oysters, Oysters and lots of Fun for all the Family! Featuring Morgan’s Ocean Fresh Carlingford Oyster Pearl Competition: 12 Ladies will compete for the Crown in  a weekend of fun filled activities, a sense of humour is essential! The winner will be crowned Morgan's Ocean Fresh Carlingford Oyster Pearl 2012 and receive €1000 CASH with a One year’s full membership to The Four Seasons Hotel Leisure Centre in Carlingford

The fun programme begins with its opening reception on Thursday evening and continues through the weekend with a colourful Festival Street Market, lively street entertainment, Artisan Craft & Food Stalls & local restaurants offering delicious fishy dishes, chowders and local cuisine. Sailing Regatta on Carlingford Lough and Guided Medieval tours of Carlingford are all to be enjoyed. The world renowned Carlingford Oyster Festival offering a four day fun-filled festival for the whole family is packed with traditional children's activities including Magic Show, build a Sand Castle, Face Painting, the ever popular Teddy Bear's Picnic, Free Kayaking in the Harbour, Children’s Funfair & Bouncing Castles. Featuring the Kiddies Oyster Pearl Welly Hunt where the whole family can forage on the shores of Carlingford Lough to find treasures hidden within the shorelife and seashells.

The Morgan’s Ocean Fresh Carlingford Oyster Pearl Competitors & Sponsors

Over 26 lovely girls entered the competition and the word on the street is that the selection process was not easy. 
The ‘Pearl Girl’ finalists will enjoy four days of festival participation and fun activities, creating a buzz as they go and experience some local fame by the end of it.
The Pearls will remain in the capable hands of Angela Mc Quaid throughout who carries a wealth of experience and will be a tremendous resource to the ‘luvly’ ladies.  The girlies will be directed by Angela as to where they should be and when, right up to the finale night in the Four Seasons Hotel when the Morgan’s Fine Fish Carlingford Oyster Pearl 2012 will be crowned, receiving €1000 cash, 1 years membership in the Four Seasons Hotel Carlingford and a beautiful pearl necklace sponsored by Campbell Jewellers Dundalk.   
Although the core guideline to the competitors is – ‘Be yourself, get to know each other and have fun’ - every €1000 has to be earned…someway!
Therefore there are a few tasks set out for the Pearl Girls beginning with an interview by Big O at the opening of the festival on Thursday night in The Carlingford Arms.   If a girl can get a word in there they’re off to a good start. 
An Oyster Festival needs to have the best of oysters and the pearls will be expected to do their bit to feed the thousands that will descend on the village over the weekend.  So you may catch them getting down and dirty at Carlingford Oyster Company’s farm along the shores of Carlingford Lough on Friday afternoon before scrubbing up to strut their stuff at the festival Fashion show at the Four Seasons Hotel that evening.
Saturday will see the big boots and bling come out and head out to play in the muck with the kiddies at the Welly Oyster Pearl Hunt. The next assignment will offer an opportunity for the girlies to be creative as they glamour up a fluffy four legged friend for the best ‘wool’ design tutored by one of Ireland’s award winning sheep shearers. The pre-event training for this particular mission has already begun and one pearl girl discovered to her dismay that it would take more than some Veet and a razor to make any progress here.
Kleenex has an important role in the competition as high scores will go to the girl who uses the least amount to remove her make up and discover the hidden pearl.
Other tasks include storytelling at the Teddy Bears picnic, random live radio interviews, kitchen help at the cookery demonstrations but the Biggie will be at the Oyster Eating competition where the genuine pearls will be separated from the fake ones for sure! Spitting is deemed un- luvly-lady-like so therefore any of this may mean disqualification.
So it sounds like the most important quality in the Carlingford Oyster Pearl will be… A sense of humour..!

Thursday 9th August
7.30pm Festival Official Opening by the Louth Rose - The Carlingford Arms. Gathering and formal introduction of the ‘Pearl Girls’ with Big O. Followed by live music. Sponsored by Morgans Fine Fish.

Friday 10th August
4.00pm Funfair on the Green

3.00pm The Pearls go Oyster Farming - Carlingford Oyster Company. The first task for The Oyster pearl contestants is to make sure that the best oysters are farmed for the festival.

8.00pm Oyster Pearl Fashion Show
Four Seasons Hotel

9.00 till late - Live music in bars

Festival Night Entertainment
PJ's Music by The Nukes 10.00 til late
Taaffes Castle Music by Stormers 10.00 til late
Ma Bakers Music by Colm Morgan 10.00 til late
Carlingford Arms Music by Peter Woods 09.30 til late
Mc Kevitts Hotel Music by The Wagtails 10.00 til late

Saturday 11th August
All Day
Festival Street Market - Artisan Craft & Food Stalls;lSailing races on Carlingford Lough; Street  entertainment throughout the day; Street Busking

11.00am Maebhs Gap & Barnavave Historical Tour
Starting Point: The Tourist Office, Time: 4 hours
Distance: 8km, Difficulty: Moderate.
An experienced Archaeologist guide from Setanta Tours will lead this looped mountain walk the discussing the archaeology and mythology of Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula as you enjoy a pleasant walk with breathtaking views. Bottled water/ light snack recommended. €15 per person. Pre-Book by calling: 0871335159

2.30pm Welly Oyster Pearl Hunt
Carlingford Sailing Club - Forage with the Oyster Pearl girls on the shore for the Carlingford Oyster with a genuine pearl. Hunt through the various seashells and shorelife to find treasures hidden within the shells.

3.00pm The Pearls go a Sheep Shearin’  Tennis Courts - Be a judge as to who can give the sheep the best hair design in this hilarious task set for the’ Pearl Girls’

3.00pm Street Magic - The Carlingford Oyster Festival welcomes this wandering street Magician with tricks and spells that will make your eyes pop!

4.30-6.30 Live Music In The Square - with Gloria “One Day at a Time fame” and Patrice.

Festival Night Entertainment
PJ's Music by PJ Keelan 09.00 til late
Taaffes Castle Music by JK followed by DJ 09.00 til late
Ma Bakers Music by Damien Quinn 10.00 til late
Carlingford Arms Music by Jig Saw 10.00 til late
Mc Kevitts Hotel Music by Henry Mac 10.00 til late

Roadshow broadcasting from the village all afternoon!!

Sunday 12th August
All Day

Festival Street Market - Artisan Craft & Food Stalls; Sailing races on Carlingford Lough; Street entertainment throughout the day; Street Busking 

11.00am Maebhs Gap & Barnavave Historical Tour
Starting Point: The Tourist Office, Time: 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate. An experienced Archaeologist
guide from Setanta Tours will lead this looped mountain walk the discussing the archaeology and mythology of Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula as you enjoy a pleasant walk with breathtaking views. Bottled water/ light snack recommended. €15 per person. Pre-Book by calling: 0871335159

1.00pm Kiddies Entertainment
The Four Seasons Hotel
Bouncy castles and face painting. FREE Admission.

2.00pm Guided Walking Tour of Medieval Carlingford
Starting Point: The Tourist Office, Registration from 11.00am. Beginning 12.00pm, Cost €5.00 Interesting tour of the medieval town visiting: Holy Trinity Church, The Dominican Friary, The Mint, The Tholsel, Taaffes Castle and King Johns Castle, providing information on the towns origin, its position within national history and offer an insight into daily life during the medieval period of 1200 and onwards.

2.00pm Teddy Bears Picnic - led by the Louth Rose Patricia Marmion. The Oyster Pearls want to take you and Teddy out for lunch! Enjoy this fun activity located in the Carlingford playground. Dress code pyjamas - not compulsory. Storytelling & face painting. Registration at The Tourist Office at 1.30pm. (Please register early to avoid disappointment). ALL children must be accompanied by one adult…and one teddy.

3.30pm Kiddies Cookery Demonstration
Ghan House
Cookery School. Registration at The Tourist Office (Please register early to avoid disappointment) Adm: €3.00 per child €10 per adult

4.00pm Oyster Eating Competition
The Festival Tent.

5.00pm ‘Carlingford Lough Catch’ Cookery Demonstration
Ghan House Cookery School. Registration at The Tourist Office (Please register early to avoid disappointment). Adm €15

5.00-7.00 Live Street Music
Street entertainment and music by The Long Riders

8.00pm Oyster Opening Competition
Four Seasons Hotel.
Annual competitive event between the oyster farmers, chefs and bar staff of the local establishments to prove themselves the best!

9.00pm Crowning Of The Morgans Fine Fish Carlingford

Oyster Pearl 2012
Four Seasons Hotel.
Enjoy the dialogue with Big O with the brave girls and see the spectacular awarding of the first Morgans Fine Fish Carlingford Oyster Pearl. Great night of entertainment guaranteed.! Followed by live music by the Long Riders, followed by End Of Festival

Dance - Light supper served - Admission €10

Oyster Pearl Prizes sponsored by: Morgans Fine Fish, Campbells Jewellers Dundalk, The Four Seasons Hotel. 

Festival Night Entertainment
PJ's Beer Garden Music by The Nukes 3.30-6.30pm 
TaaffesBeerGarden Music by The Stormers 3.30-6.30pm
Carlingford Arms Music by Nearly Famous 4.00-7.00pm
Ma Bakers Music byThe Blues Brothers 7.00 til late
Carlingford Arms Music by Henry Mac 9.30 til late
Taaffes Castle Music by Becks 10.00 til late