Couple invests €850,000 to convert derelict site in Kilkee into fishing destination

A couple from Co. Clare has invested €850,000 to transform a derelict site in central Kilkee into a fishing destination.

Robert Hayes and his wife Elaine recently opened Naughton’s Yard, a development with apartments, a café, an art gallery and a vintage food truck serving locally caught fish.

‘Fishing heritage’

“We had been eyeing this abandoned site for some time and saw enormous potential for it. The location is perfect and close to the coast,” said Robert Hayes.

“We wanted the development to promote the fishing heritage that Kilkee and West Clare are known for and integrate this with the promotion of local arts.”

Seafood Task Force

The €850,000 project was completed with the support of a €41,000 grant under the Brexit Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme, recommended by the Seafood Taskforce, established by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD and implemented by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).

The scheme is funded by the European Union under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve.

‘Local Family’

Robert and Elaine have been running Naughtons Seafood Restaurant in the city center for 25 years.

“We are a local family who live and work here and have created jobs in the area for the past 25 years,” said Robert Hayes.

“We are proud to be able to create new jobs while promoting the rich coastal tourism and fishing heritage that our area has to offer.”

American Airstream trailer from 1968

The new fishing destination, just 500 meters from the beach, has been developed on the site of the stables for carriage horses that served the old West Clare Railway in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Elaine supervised the sets used for the new center to ensure they were unique, with a strong coastal theme.

The final part of the project involved purchasing a vintage 1968 American Airstream trailer, converting it into an outdoor food truck serving delicious seafood sourced from local suppliers and fishermen, including lobster, shrimp, hake and lemon sole.

‘A huge attraction’

“We were very enthusiastic about this. It is proving to be a huge draw and offers the opportunity for outdoor dining with canopies providing shelter from bad weather,” said Robert Hayes.

“There is also a take-home food service.”

‘Sea to Fork’

Robert said they have built relationships with local fishermen and suppliers to deliver sustainably caught fish from ‘sea to table’, maintaining a low to neutral carbon footprint.

Additionally, the couple only uses environmentally friendly compostable and recycled packaging, in line with Kilkee’s ‘Make Kilkee Plastic Free’ initiative.

Solar panels supply 70% of the electricity.