Irish comedy to muscle in on oyster festival (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Irish comedy to muscle in on oyster festival

8:00am Saturday 23rd June 2012 in News

A TOP Irish comedian has been revealed as the headline act at one of the region’s most highly-anticipated food festivals.

Tommy Tiernan, who has the highest selling DVD sales in Ireland, is to delight crowds at the ninth annual North- East Oyster Festival, at Hardwick Hall Hotel, in Sedgefield, County Durham.

Festival creator John Adamson, managing director of the Ramside Estates Group, said he was delighted it had grown to become such a popular event on the corporate calendar, attracting up to 2,000 people and bringing big names in comedy to the North-East.

“Tommy Tiernan is in demand all over the world so we’re thrilled to have secured him for the 2012 festival,” he said. “I’m sure his unique Irish-style comedy will be a hit with festival-goers.”

Tiernan will follow in the footsteps of household names such as Frank Carson, Bobby Davro, Al Murray, Patrick Kielty and Ricky Tomlinson when he takes to the stage in September.

Festival-goers can also look forward to live music from Teesside’s Mike McGrother’s Rogues, ex-Lindisfarne vocalist Marty Craggs and the Happy Cats, and Ska tribute band Badness.

As always, seafood, largely sourced from Hodgson’s Fish, in Hartlepool, will play a major part in the festivities, with a large marquee hosting a champagne reception and oyster stalls.

Guests will also be treated to a three-course fruits de mer meal, featuring dressed crab, Dublin Bay prawns, Scottish poached salmon and mussels, as well as wine, beer and lager, which will be served throughout the day.

Melanie Sensicle, chief executive of Visit County Durham, welcomed the return of the festival, adding: “Durham is lucky to have a number of great venues such as Hardwick Hall at which to host special evenings such as this.

“We are also growing our reputation as a centre of food and drink excellence, with the oyster festival continuing to flourish, and the Bishop Auckland Food Festival going from strength to strength.”

The 2012 North-East Oyster Festival takes place on Friday, September 21, from 11am to 6pm. Packages are now available priced at £140 (plus vat) per person.

For more information, call 01740-620253 or email dawn.

coates@hardwickhallhotel.

co.uk