Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Seafood Development Agency, and Lissadell House officially launched the ‘Taste the Atlantic – a Seafood Journey’ oyster exhibition in the stable rooms of the beautiful Lissadell House, Sligo yesterday evening.
Attended by over 45 oyster producers from around our coast, this fascinating new exhibition follows the successful launch of the ‘Surf Coast’ route of Taste the Atlantic in Lissadell House in June of this year. This dedicated seafood trail, developed by BIM and Failte Ireland aims to educate visitors and Irish consumers as to how our seafood is caught and farmed. From Donegal town to Erris in County Mayo, the Surf coast trail includes five new seafood producers and 14 seafood restaurants and joins the already successful ‘Bay coast’ route launched last year from Erris to Galway Bay with six producers and 28 restaurants.
Lissadell has a great story to tell with a long tradition in oyster farming as far back as the 1850’s. Attracting more than 50,000 visitors every year, the Taste the Atlantic – a Seafood Journey Oyster Exhibition will further profile the seafood trail and build an appreciation for the provenance and quality of Irish oysters as Richard Donnelly, BIM’s Aquaculture Business Development Manager explains; ‘We, in BIM, are delighted to partner with Constance Cassidy and Eddie Walsh of Lissadell House to develop an informative oyster exhibition that will educate both Irish and International visitors on the provenance and superior craftsmanship involved in farming quality Irish oysters. Worth over €38 million at first point of sale, Irish Oysters are sought after worldwide and it’s an industry we can be very proud of’
Over 80 oyster producers from around the coast will gather today at the annual BIM/IFA Aquaculture Oyster workshop in the Clarion Hotel, Sligo for a full agenda of talks focusing on Skills, Competitiveness, Sustainability and Innovation from Irish and International experts in the field.
Pictured at the launch of the Taste the Atlantic – a Seafood Journey Oyster Exhibition at Lissadell House, Sligo are: Richard Donnelly, BIM’s Aquaculture Manager; Tom Conneelly, Failte Ireland; Constance Cassidy, Lissadell House and Charlie Kelly, Wild Atlantic Shellfish
Pictured at the BIM/IFA Aquaculture Oyster Workshop in the Clarion Sligo are Michael Mulloy, IFA Aquaculture, David Lyons, FSAI, Richie Flynn, IFA Aquaculture and Donal Maguire, Aquaculture Development Director, BIM
Pictured at the BIM/IFA Aquaculture Oyster Workshop in the Clarion Sligo are Charlie Kelly, Wild Atlantic Shellfish, Donal Maguire, BIM’s Aquaculture Development Director, Vicky Lyons, BIM and Ray Harty, Harty’s Oysters