A new visitor centre telling the story of Irish salmon has opened in the Burren Smokehouse in Co. Clare.
The Taste the Atlantic Irish Salmon Experience, funded by the European Maritime & Fisheries Fund, forms part of the wider Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) seafood trail comprising salmon, mussel and oyster producers from Donegal to Cork. This month’s launch is one of hundreds of Fáilte Ireland Taste the Island events taking place to mark Ireland's food and drink heritage.
Richard Donnelly, BIM, said that salmon was significant in Irish history. "For the first time in Ireland we have a dedicated visitor experience that uses some of the latest technologies for people to learn about this sustainably produced food in a way that is interesting and fun.”
The Taste the Atlantic Irish Salmon Visitor Experience is located in Lisdoonvarna in Co. Clare. Visitors can travel from ancient Ireland to present time using touch screens, light walls and sound to discover how salmon has featured in Irish mythology to its role in sustaining remote communities.
Sales of Irish organic salmon remain strong and were valued at €119m in 2018 making it Ireland’s leading seafood export according to a recent report from the BIM Business of Seafood. “Twenty-four seafood producers are now included in the Taste the Atlantic seafood journey," said Mr Donnelly.
"When we first created the seafood trail [four years ago], the majority of sales were to overseas markets. Today many of these producers are selling 100% of their seafood to the growing domestic market," he added.
