Galway Options Event – Artisan Food & Farm Diversification

18 Nov 2025

Event Time 10:00 am
Venue Mount Shaw Room, Teagasc, Mellows Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway. Eircode: H65 R718

Two Day Artisan Food & Farm Diversification Event

A free two day training event is taking place on Tuesday, 18 & Wednesday, 19 November in the Mount Shaw Room, Teagasc, Mellows Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway, H65 R718. The event is aimed at farmers interested in developing a new food product idea. On Tuesday, 18 November, the event takes place from 10am – 3pm and on Wednesday, 19 November, the event takes place from 10am – 5pm. The event is facilitated by Eimear Hughes, Teagasc Advisor.

The training will:

Introduce participants to key supports, regulations, and funding opportunities
Showcase real-life success stories from leading artisan food producers
Encourage innovation, networking and collaboration
Explore how diversification can generate new income streams and sustain family farms for future generations
Visit the BIA Innovator Campus

View the agenda below

Day 1: Opportunities, Supports & Regulations in Food Production

10am – 10:15am	Welcome – Eimear Hughes, Teagasc Advisor Course outline, objectives, and participant introduction
10:15am – 11:00am	Champion Story – Brid Fahy, Linnalla Ice Cream From concept to market, product development, branding, and lessons learned
11:15am –11:45am	Networking & Refreshment Break
11:45am – 12:15pm	Champion Story – Siobhan Lawless, The Foods of Athenry Producing and marketing a premium food product, quality control, and growing market share
12:15pm – 1pm	Funding & LEADER Opportunities‌ – Conor Carty, Galway Rural Development Accessing LEADER and other grant supports
1pm – 2pm	Lunch & Informal Networking
2pm – 2:30pm	Champion Story – Caitriona Considine, Moher Cottage Journey of becoming a retailer, developing a brand, online sales and customer engagement
2:30pm – 3pm	Day 1 Wrap-up & Q&A Reflections and participant questions

Day 2: Innovation, Collaboration & Business Development

10am –11am	Colm Foley, BIA Innovator Campus – Tour of facility Mentoring, scaling and innovation supports
11am – 11:30am	Networking & Refreshment Break
11:30am –12:15pm	Galway Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Grants, training and mentoring supports
12:15pm –1pm	IFAC Advisory Services Business strategy, financial planning, market research, retail advise, sustainability and communication supports
1pm – 2pm	Lunch & Networking
2pm – 4pm	Visit to Mad Yolk Farm, Craughwell, Co. Galway
4pm – 5pm	Open Project Discussion & Peer Feedback Participants are invited to share their business ideas for constructive feedback Course Close & Next Steps‌