Funding of €467,000 has been awarded to local community organisation and micro-enterprises across Galway and Mayo under the Fisheries Local Action Group funding.
The Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) operate under Ireland’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme with grant funding provided by the Government and the European Union.
The funding enables community groups and small businesses in coastal communities to invest in projects with benefits for employment and the local economy.
Successful applicants from this first round of funding for 2020 include Killary Adventure Centre, Misunderstood Heron, Connemara Smokehouse, Blue Water Fishing, Galway Outdoor Adventure Centre and Clare Island Whiskey Ltd.
FLAG WEST
| Applicant | Project Title | Rate | Total Cost | Grant Aid |
| Blue Water Fishing | Replacement Engines for Angling Vessel Blue Water | 50 | €92,288.00 | €46,144.00 |
| Cruzco Adventure Limited trading as West Coast Aqua Park | West Coast Adventures | 50 | €200,000.00 | €100,000.00 |
| Killary Adventure Company | Upgrade of facilities, new equipment and business development | 50 | €100,850.00 | €50,425.00 |
| Misunderstood Heron | Misunderstood Heron Food Truck Experience | 50 | €52,500.00 | €26,250.00 |
| Aster Environmental Consultants Ltd | Wild Atlantic Way APP – Exploring nature on the edge | 40 | €9,555.00 | €3,822.00 |
| Connemara Smokehouse | Website development & Digital marketing | 50 | €22,000.00 | €11,000.00 |
| Total | €477,193.00 | €237,641.00 |
FLAG NORTH WEST
| Applicant | Project Title | Rate | Total Cost | Grant Aid |
| Marine Cable Services Ltd | Sea survival, first aid, telescopic/forklift training | 50 | €8,270.00 | €4,135.00 |
| Seirbhisi Cabla Teoranta T/A Marine Cable Services Ltd | MCS Equipment Procurement | 50 | €55,968.03 | €27,984.02 |
| Galway Outdoor Education Centre Ltd | Achill Surf Centre Development | 50 | €191,288.00 | €95,644.00 |
| Clew Bay Garden Trail | Clew Bay Garden Trail | 80 | €3,898.00 | €3,118.40 |
| Horse Back West | Horse Back West | 40 | €25,777.00 | €10,310.80 |
| Wild Atlantic Way Farm | Wild Atlantic Way Farm | 40 | €50,646.00 | €20,258.40 |
| Salann Mara Acla Teo t/a Achill Island Sea Salt | Purchase of inhouse smoker and modification of area to house smoker | 50 | €11,815.00 | €5,907.50 |
| Clare Island Whiskey Ltd | Clare Island Whiskey Phase 2 – Branding / Marketing / Point of Sale | 50 | €31,342.00 | €15,671.00 |
| Sligo Bay SUP | New stand up paddle boards | 50 | €5,500.00 | €2,750.00 |
| Declan Lavelle | Purchase of Refrigeration unit to upgrade existing facilities | 60 | €5,000.00 | €3,000.00 |
| Gerry Hassett and Kieran Connaghan | Enlargement of Freezer Unit at Purteen Harbour, Keel, Achill | 60 | €3,254.67 | €1,952.80 |
| Peadar Cawley | PC Marine Welding & Fabrication Services | 50 | €8,525.82 | €4,262.91 |
| Wild West Sailing | Wild West Sailing – Safety Equipment | 50 | €2,433.00 | €1,216.50 |
| Blackshell Ltd | Biopolymer Mesh Knitting Factory Setup Project | 50 | €59,000.00 | €29,500.00 |
| Martin the Shore | Upgrade of Fish Stall | 50 | €7,241.46 | €3,620.73 |
| Total | €469,958.98 | €229,332.06 |
Seán Kyne 