SNIPPET: Hillsborough, County Down, is a village with a castle, a historic fort, Georgian houses and a beautiful park with a lake surrounded by woods, 23 miles from the sea. The Annual International Oyster Festival in Hillsborough enables visitors to attend a three-day fun event for the whole family the beginning of September in what must be one of the most attractive villages in the whole of Ireland, set, as it is, in the beautiful, gentle rolling countryside of County Down, the county in which St. Patrick himself first set foot in Ireland. The germ of the idea of an oyster festival began years ago by Derek PATTERSON, owner of the Plough Inn, who was passionate about fish and wanted to hold a food festival, celebrating Ireland's fresh local produce. There is an oyster eating competition that attracts competitors from Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Norway, Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, and raises money for charity. Cystic Fibrosis was the charity that benefited in 2005. The local Champion, Colin SHERLOW, said he entered because he wanted to break the world record and have his name in the Guinness Book of Records. He managed to swallow an incredible 233 oysters in three minutes! During the festival, Hillsborough's main street - which runs down a steep hill from the square beside Hillsborough Castle to St. Malachy's Church - is closed to traffic. Street traders and performers arrive. As well as the oyster eating competition, special events are arranged such as a fancy dress competition for children, an open boat race, a parachute descent by 'The Wild Geese' dare devil parachutists, a Grand Ball, musical entertainment and a hotly contested homemade go-cart race in the grounds of St. Malachy's Parish church. Set at the end of tree-lined avenue, the historic church is well worth a visit. The open boat race is one of the most enjoyable events. Teams from the village enter the competition with great enthusiasm and little skill. It all adds to the craic. For information on the Hillsborough Oyster Festival please see www.hillsboroughoysterfestival.com and for general information on Northern Ireland, please see www.discovernorthernireland.com