Meet the Team

Graham

Graham – is married to Saoirse and has four wonderful children. They live up the road about a mile from the Smokehouse in the village of Aillebrack. In his spare time, which is not very often, Graham loves to spend time with his wife and children. Graham is also a keen windsurfer and golfer when time and weather permit. Graham has grown up with the business and started off washing fish boxes during the summer holidays at the age of 4 for one penny a box and thought he had it made when he got a rise to two pence a box. Graham has learned every aspect of the business having followed his father John and paying close attention to everything thing he did from a very young age. Graham now owns and runs the Smokehouse with his wife Saoirse. Graham fillets the fish by hand and is extremely dedicated to producing the very best quality seafood available. Graham takes enormous pride in the quality of his Smokehouse and his products and has an obvious passion and enthusiasm for his work. It is not unusual to find Graham at the smokehouse working at 4-5 in the morning, however he always has time to chat to customers and answer any questions they may have.

Saoirse

Saoirse – is Graham’s wife, they have been childhood sweethearts since their school days. Saoirse is mother to their four children. Saoirse’s experience of the seafood business began at 17, helping Graham cleaning mussels into the small hours of the morning for selling locally. Saoirse used to work in the catering trade during her summer holidays and when finished school at 19, she joined the team at the Connemara Smokehouse. Saoirse was mainly in the Packing Room but was also known to remain behind after hours to help Graham in the Filleting Room or to do some Secretarial Duties. Saoirse & Graham married in 1998 and after the arrival of their first child in 2001. Saoirse now works harder than ever, looking after their four children and designing and printing much of the Connemara Smokehouse’s literature. She is a wonderful resource for bouncing new ideas off. Saoirse occasionally steps into the Smokehouse to help out where ever she is needed.

Staff from left: Graham, Saoirse, Bridget, Marek, Teresa, Nicolas

Teresa – With Teresa’s bubbly personality and her warm welcome she is a constant hit with visitors to the Smokehouse and a pleasure to have around the place. Teresa & Graham grew up together from childhood. Teresa is Godmother to Graham & Saoirse’s daughter. Teresa lives nearby with her husband, son & daughter. Teresa manages the day to day running of the Packing Room as well as looking after customers who visit the smokehouse and doubling up as secretary and looking after whatever else needs to be done.

Bridget – Along with her husband John started the business in 1979. Bridget lives just a few hundred yards from the Smokehouse in Aillebrack Village. Bridget is mother to Graham and his sister Linda and grandmother to Graham and Saoirse’s four children, although people can’t believe that such a young looking woman could be a mother to Graham never mind a grandmother. Bridget now mainly does Secretarial Office Work, although if need be she helps out in many other areas of the Smokehouse and it is not at all unusual to find her over seeing the loading of a truck at 11-12 at night in the crazy Christmas rush. She is now looking to cut back on work and chill a bit.

Nicolas – Nicolas is from Cevennes in the south of France in a small village called Besseges 60km from the coast. Nicolas has been living in Ireland since 2000, with his partner and now their two boys. Nicolas has worked as a chef and also worked with Smoked Salmon for a number of years. Nicolas has a keen interest in fishing and diving. Nicolas workes in all areas from the filleting room to the packing room of the Smokehouse as well as looking after customers and tours (en Francais) and what ever else that may need doing. He is a valuable addition to our team.

Juniors

Roberts Jnr’s – are the third generation to get involved. Though they are too young to work at the moment, they love to go to the Smokehouse with their wellington boots to help Dada (Graham) but mostly to eat his fish. Some of you may have witnessed this on our Smokehouse Tours. Our eldest girl, who was 3 years at the time, had sorted their roles in the Smokehouse when Graham & Saoirse retire. The boys will take Graham’s role in the production side of things like filleting, smoking and packing, hygiene and staff etc. The girls will continue with the business side of things like the office, running the tours and looking after the customers. Lets hope when the time comes they feel the same and do want to get involved in the Smokehouse.

Meet the Maker @ Rua

Here’s some I prepared earlier!

Roberts Jnr – the next generation – with some delicious samples at a recent “Meet the maker” celebration in Rua Deli!

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