FLAG West

Local Development Strategy

View FLAG West Local Development Strategy

The FLAG West area comprises the coastal zone of Counties Galway and Clare, encompassing a total population of 81,176 within the 10km coastal strip. The FLAG West area has the largest Gaeltacht in the country where the Irish language is spoken on a daily basis.  

The FLAG West’s fishing activity is dispersed along the coast of Galway and Clare with a heavy concentration along the Connemara coast line. The seafood industry is prominent in the area, with 337 vessels registered in 2022. The FLAG West area recorded 3,090 landings, bringing a total of 2,520 tonnes of seafood at a value of €22.4 million in 2022. The area also generated €38.4 million of aquaculture sales in 2021, accounting for 21% of the sales value generated and employing 12% of the industry across the seven coastal regions.  

There is a developing seaweed industry in FLAG West area through processing and harvesting. Seaweed is used in cosmetics and food products. Tourism is important to the FLAG West region. Activities include angling, dolphin watching, traditional sailing, trips to offshore islands and trips to Aran Islands, Cliffs of Moher, Inis boffin. The area is also part of the Wild Atlantic Way. The region boasts several heritage sites including The Burren that has achieved UNESCO World Heritage Site status. 

The strategy describes the economy and community which FLAG West seeks to build, with the ambition to further improve the economic, social and environmental conditions of coastal communities in the FLAG West area. This is in line with the strategy vision: 

“The FLAG West’s coastal communities of Galway and Clare will have vibrant, sustainable economies building on the area’s environmental and culture strengths.” 

This can be delivered through the following actions:

• Diversify and enhance the income of individuals dependant on seafood and the blue economy in the coastal community   

• Identify innovations that can lead to a transition towards smarter growth in coastal area  

• Develop and promote niche tourism 

• Build capacity to develop greater co-operation between all relevant stakeholders in coastal communities   

• Support community involvement in the management of Ireland’s coastal resource to sustain its physical character and environmental quality 

• Actions to protect and promote the sense of place and culture and the quality, character and distinctiveness of the Irish coastal communities. 

To achieve these actions West FLAG has selected the following areas of activity priority:

For this targeted call FLAG West have implemented the following grant aid caps and restrictions per application:

Applications for Capital items for use in one off events/festivals are capped at €10,000 of grant aid.

*Applications for Capital expenditure on community centres/halls is capped at €20,000 of grant aid.

FLAG West additional specific ineligible items:   

• Accommodation projects are ineligible  
• Floating water parks are ineligible  
• Investments by field sports organisations at any level are ineligible  
• For investments related to the use of seaweed the following requirements apply If the project involves seaweed gathering the applicant must provide a Seaweed Harvesting Plan  
• If the project involves the regular purchase of seaweed from third party suppliers the applicant must provide evidence that this is sustainably harvested/ sources by those suppliers.