Introduce yourself
Hi, I’m Maebh O Malley, co-owner of Achill Island Sea Salt, with my family. We hand harvest sea salt from the Atlantic waters that surround Achill Island, Co. Mayo.
What inspired you to join the natural health sector?
We aren’t exclusively part of the natural health sector. However as our sea salt is a natural salt, free from any additives it has become a popular choice for health conscious consumers. Achill Island Sea Salt also contains over 50 trace minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, and zinc meaning it is a better alternative to highly processed salts.
Where did you get the idea for your brand?
My mother, Marjorie O’Malley was watching a documentary on sea salt production in the U.K and got the idea of starting a sea salt company in Achill. We started making sea salt in our family kitchen in 2013 and in 2016 we moved to a custom modified sea salt factory on the island.
What makes your brand unique?
I think what makes Achill Island Sea Salt is that we are a small family business based in rural Ireland producing a high quality sea salt using a combination of traditional and modern techniques. Achill Island Sea Salt is a soft flaky sea salt, that has a distinctive sweet-salty flavour, that enhances any dish. This quality and flavour of our sea salt has gained attention from many Irish chefs and features on restaurant menus across the country. Our sea salt was recently awarded EU Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). PDO recognises a products unique and distinctive link to the place in which it is produced and the specific skills and knowledge needed to produce the sea salt.
What are your company’s core values?
Quality, transparency and community. We believe in producing a high quality product, and being open and honest about how we do so. We are dedicated to building a sustainable and viable industry on Achill Island—one that supports the local economy, creates meaningful employment, and contributes to the long-term growth for the Island.
How do you support your community?
Our local community have been pivotal in helping us grow over the years, and support them through donation for local fundraising events and sponsoring opportunities.
What has been the most rewarding part of your brands journey?
I think the most rewarding part of our journey is getting great customer feedback on our products. We are committed to creating a high quality, great tasting sea salt and to hear our customers telling us how much they love our salt is what keeps us going.
What in your opinion makes Irish brands unique?
I think what makes Irish brands unique is our connection to heritage, artisan production and provenance. We have such amazing food and drink producers who are passionate about where their ingredients come from and ensuring that they produce high quality and great tasting products.
What is your favourite product from your brand?
It’s a tough one, but at the moment I am loving our smoked sea salt. We smoke it in house over beech and oak and it won a 3 Star Great Taste award in 2024. It has the taste of the sea with subtle smoky notes, similar to a turf fire. I love using it in Mexican dishes, barbequing and sprinkled over a fried egg.
Tell us about something that has shaped your brand?
Being a family owned business has shaped the Achill Island Sea Salt Brand and how we operate. We are passionate about what we do and proud to be able to use our local resources to create a viable industry in the west of Ireland.
What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
We hope to continue to expand the reach of Achill Island Sea Salt and begin exporting to the UK, and Europe in the next few years. We have an onsite visitor centre in Achill where we share our story and production process and hope to enhance that experience to become a year round food tourism destination.
