KCLR 96FM
Through The Night
On Air Now
Through The Night
12:00 am - 7:00 am
Listen Live
  • Live
  • News
  • Sport
  • On Air
    • Schedule
    • Podcasts
    • Documentaries & Drama
    • KCLR Catchup
    • Competitions & Terms
  • Catch Up
  • Jobs
  • Deaths
  • Advertise
  • Helplines
No Result
View All Result
KCLR 96FM
  • Live
  • News
  • Sport
  • On Air
    • Schedule
    • Podcasts
    • Documentaries & Drama
    • KCLR Catchup
    • Competitions & Terms
  • Catch Up
  • Jobs
  • Deaths
  • Advertise
  • Helplines
No Result
View All Result
KCLR 96FM
No Result
View All Result

Note: KCLR does not charge for streaming or access to live games. Ads are provided by a third-party.
ADVERTISEMENT

Goatsbridge Trout Farm to scale up production after completing €1.68 million investment, with support from BIM

Martin Quilty by Martin Quilty
09/11/2023
in Featured, KCLR News, News & Sport
Goatsbridge Trout Farm to scale up production after completing €1.68 million investment, with support from BIM

Ger and Mag Kirwan pictured at the new solar panels at Goatsbridge Trout Farm in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny. The panels which will improve energy efficiency at the farm were supported with grant aid under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve scheme

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Goatsbridge Trout Farm has completed a €1.68 million investment which will see it improve efficiencies and increase production of its popular trout products at its Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, base.

The investment was supported with grant aid of €666,540 from the Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme and the Brexit Sustainable Aquaculture Growth Scheme, administered through Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).

ADVERTISEMENT

The two schemes combined will deliver up to €65 million in funding to the Irish seafood processing sector. Both are funded by the European Union under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve, and are recommendations of the Seafood Taskforce established by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D.

Mag Kirwan, who runs Goatsbridge with her husband Ger, said the investment – which included a factory extension, upgrading and introducing new state-of-the-art production lines and introducing solar panels – will transform the business which produces smoked trout, trout pâté, fish chowder and Ireland’s only caviar made from trout roe.

The investment will also protect the current 27 jobs in the business and hopefully increase the numbers employed in the next year.

“We are delighted with the new development. These upgrades will ensure greater production efficiencies and standards, as well as increasing our capacity to develop further value-added products,” she said. “It will also improve energy efficiency. As well as solar panels we have upgraded existing doors to improve temperature control in the production area, and added a blast chiller to improve the processing of products including caviar.”

According to Mags Kirwan the investment will pave the way for the business to pursue its strategy to produce more high volume, high margin products to allow for increased domestic and overseas sales.

As well as being available in Irish retail outlets all over the country Goatsbridge products are on sale in 400 Sainsburys outlets in the UK. Recently the company landed a deal to stock its popular products through the Ocado online food company in the UK. Goatsbridge is currently pursuing exports further afield with negotiations underway for a possible listing in the Dubai-based Spinneys supermarket and grocery chain which has more than 65 locations across the UAE.

The new Solar panels will radically cut down on Goatsbridge’s energy costs. “Due to climate change over the last number of years we find the temperatures in the water are higher and the water levels are lower, especially in the summer months. If we do not allow for more oxygen and water recirculation our production capacity will be greatly reduced. But this takes up a lot of energy and the solar panels will have a big impact here.”

“We aim to become carbon neutral in the coming 3 to 5 years. We want to be sustainable not just from a business point of view, but more importantly from an environmental point of view. We want to protect what we have for generations to come.” said Mag.

She said the support of BIM and the Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme has been immense. “The scheme was the trigger we needed to bring our business to a new level. This support has been vital in helping us to innovate and grow. It is particularly beneficial in the current climate with costs rising. I strongly believe it is when you are feeling fearful that it’s time to be brave and make changes.”

In recent years, Goatsbridge has focused on adding value to its highly sought after trout products. As well as suppling to the Irish retail and hospitality markets, and starting sales into the UK, it also supplies to wholesale which forms a large part of the business. Online sales are being developed.

BIM CEO, Caroline Bocquel, said: “It is great to see at first hand the positive impact of the Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme on fish businesses including Goatsbridge. Mag and Ger have been true champions in the Irish seafood industry for almost 30 years and are constantly adapting and innovating and seeking to be more efficient.” 

In 2012, Goatsbridge developed Ireland’s first ever caviar – trout caviar – with support from BIM. Caviar is salted fish roe or eggs and regarded as a delicacy.

Goatsbridge Trout Farm was started by Ger Kirwan’s father, Padraig, in 1961 when he created the first fish ponds on The Little Arrigle River in the heart of the Nore Valley. Ger and Mag took over the business in 2002.

ShareTweetPin

On Air Now

Through The Night
On Air Now
Through The Night
12:00 am - 7:00 am
Your favourite hits

Recent News

Bad Weather closes road in Kilkenny

Local Road Closures During Raven’s Rock Rally ’25

by Michael Bergin
06/07/2025

Carlow and Kilkenny Tourism Discussed at Oireachtas Information Clinic

Carlow and Kilkenny Tourism Discussed at Oireachtas Information Clinic

by Michael Bergin
06/07/2025

Councillor Calls for Carlow Access Officer after Handrail Installed in Graiguecullen

Councillor Calls for Carlow Access Officer after Handrail Installed in Graiguecullen

by Michael Bergin
06/07/2025

National Play Day Returns to Kilkenny Castle Park

National Play Day Returns to Kilkenny Castle Park

by Michael Bergin
05/07/2025

HOLDING PAGE FOR LOCAL AND EUROPEAN ELECTIONS

Mayor of Carlow Town Wishes Local Teams Well in Cairns Community Games

by Michael Bergin
05/07/2025

ADVERTISEMENT

KCLR | Kilkenny and Carlow's Radio Station

KCLR is Kilkenny and Carlow’s favourite local radio station, with the very best of local up-to-the-minute news and sport with great music and entertainment seven days a week.

Listen To KCLR

Kilkenny
96.0FM Kilkenny South
96.0FM Johnstown / Urlingford
96.6FM Kilkenny Main
94.6FM Graiguenamanagh

Carlow
96.9FM Carlow Main
96.2FM Carlow South

Listen live online

Useful Links

  • Local Alerts
  • Helplines
  • Complaints
  • Advertise
  • On Air Schedule
  • Competition Terms

Contact KCLR

Broadcast Centre,
Leggettsrath Business Park,
Carlow Road,
Kilkenny
R95 YTD5

1800 90 9696
083 3069696

Get full contact details here

  • Complaints
  • Privacy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2024 CK Broadcasting / KCLR · Reg #355699
Leggettsrath Business Park, Carlow Road, Kilkenny R95 YTD5

No Result
View All Result
  • Live
  • News
  • Sport
  • On Air
    • Schedule
    • Podcasts
    • Documentaries & Drama
    • KCLR Catchup
    • Competitions & Terms
  • Catch Up
  • Jobs
  • Deaths
  • Advertise
  • Helplines