Padraig Gannon founded Croagh Patrick Seafoods, located alongside Clew Bay, in the 1980s and has been farming oysters since. Photograph: Conor McKeown
I ask Ingrid Augustin, the German journalist from Schwabische Zeitung, what she means by “fairies”. I feel I must point out to the listening journalists that fairies do not reside in Ireland, or at least, they have never shown themselves to me. “The romantic feeling people have about Ireland,” Augustin says by way of explanation. “That Celtic thing. A green land. Traditional music. The Banshees of Inisherin. The wild Atlantic coastway that nobody knew existed until 10 years ago.
The eight journalists and photographers on the bus are: Ursula Maxwell, Canadian, of Black Press; Alessia Trivelli, Italy, of Adnkronos; Olivia Le Sidaner, France, of; Frank van der Vleuten, Netherlands, of De Telegraaf; Thomas Andreasen, Denmark, of Kristeligt Dagblad; Geert D’Hulster of Gazet Van Antwerpen, Belgium, of Het Nieuwsblad; Javier Garcia, Spain, of Destinos; and Ingrid Augustin. The two who will join us later that day are Christine Loomis and Mina Rahim.
When the ‘reek’ of Croagh Patrick is pointed out, its tiny church at the top clearly visible on this clear day, Andreasen asks: ‘Is it the main form of tourism here?’ And, ‘Are there hotels up there? Can you stay the night?’ As we’re walking back to the hotel, Ellard tells me that he’ll talk about anything to visitors, with the exception of politics, which he always veers away from.
“It’s easier to convince Flemish people to go to Ireland than Albania,” Geert D’Hulster says. “It seems a safer place. And Ireland has kept its identity.”“The main thing is, it’s not England, or Britain. It’s a country on its own. And people are easier to interact with here. They are more friendly. But I don’t think Ireland is a working-class holiday destination. It’s not a cheap place to come on holiday, like Spain or Turkey.
Walk on Keem beach. One of the things about a press trip is that things often happen in a different order to the way they would should you actually be on holidays. And so it is that at 9.30am, at Croagh Patrick Seafoods, we are eating oysters; one of my very favourite things to do, but usually when it is at least noon. Not usually shortly after breakfast.