The
Oyster festival first began in Abu Dhabi in 1998, featuring a week long celebration
of all that is good in an oyster...a minute would probably have done it. However
it did afford the fledgling Abu Dhabi Fianna an occasion to entertain our
compatriots from Dubai and Al Ain, as well as a few stragglers from Saudi.
1999 saw the event being held for the first time at the W&E grounds, with
a large turnout to witness.
The combined
group...a right motley crew!
The Gulf hurling team, more a danger to themselves than to Dubai
Back Row: Dermot Wallis, Ger McGrath, Denis Crotty (all Dhahran), Mick Ryan, Tim Tuckey, Anthony Carey, Dermot McCluskey (all Abu Dhabi)
Front Row: Felim Bolster, Neil Creedon, Johnny Rea (all Abu Dhabi), Pat O'Mahony (Al Ain), Tommy Byrne (Unreel, the band in Finnegans!)
This bunch actually scraped a draw, while the footballers did likewise against a strong Dubai/Sharjah squad