Oyster Festival chairman thanks for support

Sean Hall, who was also one of the founders of the event, and fellow committee members, said they were extremely grateful to the residents of the town and truly appreciate their forebearance as well as their efforts to ensure the Festival continues to be the success it has become over the past two decades.

The Festival, which was set up to champion local produce of all types and the thriving village of Hillsborough, while raising much needed funds for deserving local charities, has grown exponentially and been through many incarnations over the years. Throughout its 21-year history, the Hillsborough International Oyster Festival has raised over £470,000 for local charities and this year, was very proud to continue its association with the Jill Todd Trust.

The counting is still underway this year but the Festival expects to be able to again make a sizeable donation to the Trust that was set up in memory of local resident Jill Todd whose life was taken by cancer in 2010.

The Trust was working in partnership with ‘Friends of Cancer Centre’. ‘Friends’, which is based at the Cancer Centre in Belfast City Hospital, funds innovative research posts, provides clinical nurse specialists and delivers complimentary therapies and relaxation classes for cancer patients and their families across Northern Ireland.