Inspired by a successful venture in similarly rugged conditions of pristine sea water in Cornwall, Michael and Aileen O’Neill recognised the potential for producing this superb natural product on the Beara Peninsula in West Cork, and Irish Atlantic Sea Salt was established in 2009.
The first natural sea salt to be commercially produced in Ireland, it is an excellent high quality replacement for popular imports, notably Maldon Salt, and has its own unique characteristics due to the purity and high salinity of the Atlantic seawater on the remote Beara Peninsula.
Produced sustainably and with no anti-caking agents, it is saltier, with a genuine sea-fresh flavour, and has larger, slightly harder crystals than Maldon, but it will crumble (or could be used in a mill). You need to use less of this salt than others, as it tastes very pure.
Irish Atlantic Sea Salt is available online from Ballymaloe Cookery School and Castlemine Farm Shop (Roscommon shop and online), also on sale in speciality food shops, including Sheridans, and becoming more widely available at supermarkets and independent stores around Ireland.
In the same location, Michael O’Neill’s company Tower Aqua Products Ltd has produced Japanese Abalone since 2004.
