West Cork shellfish company launches Ireland’s first crab pate

Based in Castletownbere, Shellfish Ireland has grown to become one of the largest employers in the area with more than 130 staff

Carol Harrington, CEO Shellfish Ireland with four generations of the Murphy family - Pat Murphy, Chair Shellfish Ireland, Ryan Murphy, Richard Murphy and Tommy Murphy

A West Cork shellfish company has launched Ireland’s first crab pate following an upgrading of its factory with support of a €790k Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme grant implemented by Bord Iaschaigh Mhara (BIM).

Shellfish Ireland, based in Casteltownbere, says the investment will help the company develop other fish products from what was previously waste, which will increase efficiency and cut down the cost of disposal.

Shellfish Ireland CEO, Carol Harrington, said the grant has been used to purchase new equipment for processing shellfish and to upgrade cold storage facilities.

“This upgrading means we can focus on more value-added products and we are delighted to have recently launched Ireland’s first crab pate which is listed in Dunnes and Musgraves stores.” she said.

The Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme brings to over €1m in grants Shellfish Ireland has secured through BIM since 2021.

“We are focusing very much on value-added products,” said Ms Harrington. “The machines we were able to buy with the support of the Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme will increase our yield from processing crab, making us more competitive on the domestic and export markets. 

The new refrigeration system will speed up the freezing time during processing, enhancing the quality of the product as well as improving energy efficiency. According to Ms Harrington, the investment will also add value to the crab and shrimp landings in Ireland.

“All the raw material is landed into local ports around the Irish coast. The majority of the crab and shrimp purchased by Shellfish Ireland is from small to medium boats and family fishing enterprises, so we are supporting this industry in rural Ireland.” 

Shellfish Ireland products are BRC Garde A certified and are available in all five major supermarket retailers as well as across restaurants and hotels. On the export market, it sells in both Europe and Asia.

The business was first established in Castletownbere in 1987 by two fishermen, Richard Murphy and Peter O’Sullivan Greene.

Shellfish Ireland has grown to become one of the largest employers in the area, with more than 130 people currently working there. The Murphy’s are still very much involved with 95-year-old Pat Murphy – Richard’s dad – chair of the board of Shellfish Ireland.