PRESS
RELEASE
23rd July 2023
Croagh Patrick Seafood and Tours Opens New Oyster Farm
Visitor Centre
Croagh Patrick
Seafood and Tours new oyster farm visitor centre was officially opened by Mr
Michael Ring TD on Friday 21st July 2023. Based at the existing
Gannon family oyster farm in Rosslaher near Westport, this quality tourist
attraction is ideally located on both the Wild Atlantic Way and the Great
Western Greenway. Supported by South West Mayo Development Centre (SWMDC) and
the Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG), it is part of BIM’s Taste the Atlantic
Trail celebrating Irish seafood. Croagh Patrick Seafoods and Tours is set to
become a true destination drawing tourists from far and wide.
The newly built visitor centre was designed to fit in with
the existing vernacular buildings which comprised the original Gannon
homestead. The welcoming centre offers an attractive a self-guided oyster
farming tour including a captivating aerial photograph of the site and a full
size currach named ‘Padraicín’ after the late Paddy Gannon. Nearby is sympathetically
renovated heritage farm building which was previously a milking shed. The
fascinating visitor tour consists of a guided tour along the idyllic foreshore
where the Grade A oysters are produced, oyster picking and an oyster shucking
lesson followed by a chance to browse the self-guided tour. A delicious seafood
tasting menu with oysters, mussels and smoked salmon is available and the farm
shop extends the experience with an opportunity to bring the taste of the
Atlantic home.
The launch itself was a glorious tribute to Padraic and the entire
Gannon family as friends, neighbours and guests celebrated the new centre with
warmth and enthusiasm. Only one of the nine siblings was absent; Christopher
who lives in New York and it was a wonderful example of a community coming
together to applaud one of their own. Speaking at the launch Mr Michael Ring TD
warmly congratulated the family citing his own connections with them from his
early days doing a bread round and calling to the family shop, Mulchrone’s, in
James Street Westport. Saying, “Today is a special day for me as well”, he
planted a kiss on the cheek of Padraic’s mother Annie Nora Gannon who is hale
and hearty in her 90th year. He also fondly recalled her husband the
late Paddy Gannon. Mr Ring went on to say, “Croagh Patrick Seafoods is a
wonderful project and a great example of what South West Mayo Development
Company do to support small local communities. It is a fabulous development and
will provide much needed employment in this area”.
Padraic Gannon himself thanked everyone for their help and
support, saying that building the new centre was “like launching a boat on a
rising tide”. He included the funders, his family, particularly his wife
Sheila, neighbours and wider community in his thanks.
Mr Paul Gibbons, Chair of SWMDC commented that, “This
venture epitomises the enthusiasm and attitude found within the community. I am
very proud of the work our local team have done and are doing on this project,
it is the way forward for all of us and proves that rural Ireland is indeed
alive and well”.
Colette Fahy spoke on behalf of FLAG, representing the
Chair, Neil Cruise. She congratulated Padraic Gannon and his team, wishing them
further success. Fr Jim Walsh performed an official blessing of the new centre.
Croagh Patrick Seafood and Tours is a family business run by
Padraic Gannon and his son Mark producing fresh, delicious Clew Bay native
oysters and award-winning Pacific oysters. For a quarter of a century the
Gannon family has produced shellfish in aquaculture sites on the shores of Clew
Bay near Croagh Patrick for which the company is named. Croagh Patrick Seafoods
is a prime example in demonstrating how using the sea as a resource and
developing this aquaculture enterprise is a real and viable alternative to land
use and agriculture.
Tours are 90 minutes long and take place daily at 12 noon.
They can be booked online at www.croaghpatrickseafoods.ie.
Croagh Patrick Seafood and Tours is in Rosslaher, halfway between Westport and
Newport and just a 5 minute cycle from the Greenway.
ENDS
www.croaghpatrickseafoods.ie
https://www.facebook.com/croaghpatrickseafood
CONTACT
Lesley Emerson, PR West
087 2263319 lesley@prwest.ie
