In the Loop Newsletter

Croagh Patrick Seafood and Tours - Open Day

An extraordinary new visitor experience has opened on the stunning west coast of Ireland! Croagh Patrick Seafood & Tours, the brainchild of Padraic Gannon and his family, has emerged through the collaboration of the SWMDC LEADER team and Mayo Local Action Group (LAG).

Nestled along the breathtaking Clew Bay, between Westport and Newport, along the Wild Atlantic Way, lies Croagh Patrick Seafoods, a long-established family oyster farm. At its helm is owner Padraic Gannon, who personally guides visitors through an enthralling shore-based tour of the oyster farm. The experience includes an oyster shucking demonstration and a delicious tutored tasting.

Padraic’s engaging stories bring the rich history of Clew Bay to life and the captivating narrative of his own family and community. As Padraig welcomes visitors to this hidden gem, we will also see growth in the local community, creating new job opportunities that breathe life into Mayo.

Michael Ring T.D. performed the official opening, and congratulated the Gannons on getting to this momentous day. Sue O’Toole, LEADER Project Officer, and Fiona Mc Greal LEADER Finance/Admin supported Padraig to secure almost €200,000 LEADER funding towards this ambitious food-tourism development. To book a tour visit: www.croaghpatrickseafoods.ie

LEADER LDS (Local Development Strategy) Submission

We are delighted that our LEADER Local Development Strategy (LDS) has

been submitted to the Department of Rural and Community Development. This strategy was developed over the past five months involving collaboration of the SWMDC board and the entire SWMDC staff complement. Our position as an integrated Local Development Company, really came to the fore in this process.

The bottom-up approach is integral to the LEADER ethos, and we would like to thank all of the people who participated in our consultations, which included public meetings, focus groups, one to one consultations, and online surveys. We could not have written this strategy without your valuable input.

Community Employment (CE)

Positions Available via www.jobsIreland.ie under the community employment scheme:

The Community Employment (CE) programme is designed to help people who are long-term unemployed (or otherwise disadvantaged) to get back to work by offering part-time and temporary work placements in

local communities. For more information, please see our website: www.southmayo.com

Living Well is delivering FREE programmes in September 2023

Living Well offers a free training programme consisting of six workshops, each lasting 2.5 hours, available in online and classroom formats. The programme is facilitated by trained leaders, many of whom have personal experience with long-term health conditions.

During these workshops, participants will acquire essential self-management skills and enhance their confidence, enabling them to lead a fulfilling lives while effectively managing their health conditions.