INSTIGATING CHANGE AND INTEGRATION

Bill Carty Founder of Cool Springs, holding an Arctic Charr

This family run fish farm specialises in bringing Organically prepared arctic charr to your table

Cool Springs is run by Bill Carty and his wife Mari Johnston, who along with their four young children live an idyllic existence near Cloonacool village at the foot of the Ox Mountains.

The husband and wife team often talked about working from home to have a better quality of life so they decided to do something about it. With a background in Food and Environmental Science Bill Carty set about researching the idea of rearing arctic charr.

TOTALLY ORGANIC

Arctic Charr may not be a familiar fish to all, but they are native to the deep glacial lakes of the west coast of Ireland since the last ice age, and thrive in pure, cold conditions.

The rearing process is a totally organic practice, so there are no chemicals, antibiotics or colourings of any kind used. All water used is filtered through a natural reed bed before being returned to the local waterway.

“We currently supply select restaurants across the country and we also supply some farmer’s markets and fish shops and our aim is to increase people’s awareness of this beautiful tasting fish,” explains Carty. 

Cool Springs have also recently launched the first two products of their smoked range of Cloonacool Arctic Charr, and these smoked products give them an opening into the delicatessen and retail section.

FISH FOR IT 

The Cool Springs founder believes that the key to start-up success is to make sure that you research your idea as thoroughly as possible, seeking advice from agencies and researching your markets, competition and price.

Carty offers some invaluable advice to emerging entrepreneurs, “a lot of people have great ideas but procrastinate too much on them. If you don’t try you won’t succeed. The worst thing that can happen is your business fails, but if it does, get up and go again. You will have learned plenty from your experience which will stand you in good stead later in life.”

Published in the December 2007 / January 2008 Issue of Irish Entrepreneur