THIS Co Galway festival is truly committed to the preservation of the rural Irish male. A culchie is, according to festival director Paddy Rock, a fun loving character, "a shrewd individual, capable of turning the tables on those who underestimate his abilities". This year's 20 contestants arrive in Monivea tomorrow at lunchtime.

Events over the weekend include a culchie fashion show (in the Eyre Square Centre, Galway city, from 1 p.m. on Saturday), an inter county tug owar and the Fionn MacCumhail Challenge which involves wool rolling, sausage skinning and wellie throwing.