Member Stories
Vigilant
Vigilant
Fleet Development
Ocean Trawlers Ltd. is a family company, formed in 1999 after the parent company, Gallagher Bros. Ltd., purchased the Golden Rose fishing vessel from retiring skipper John Gallagher. The vessel was built in 1981 as a 90’ Refrigerated Seawater (RSW) vessel and was lengthened in 1987 to 124’ as the Irish fleet evolved with changing fishing patterns. The boat was now able to travel further and return with its catches to Killybegs without being restricted by poor weather.
Family Legacy
The Gallagher family was initially involved in processing, mainly the salting and curing of herring, from their home in Teelin, Co. Donegal. Two brothers, Jack and Phil, formed the company in 1919 and they owned several fishing boats over the years involved primarily in the herring and salmon drift net fishery, and ring netting when conditions suited. Herring was exported by coastal cargo ships from Teelin to the main markets in Germany, Holland and France.
Over the years, Jack’s sons and daughters continued to expand the business, developing processing facilities in Killybegs and entering fish farming in the 1980’s. The company now operates two fish farming sites in Donegal Bay. As the fishing seasons got shorter, the fish farms provided extended processing employment to the local workforce.
Generational Commitment
Ocean Trawlers’ present vessel, the Vigilant, was built in 1995. The decision to upgrade from the Golden Rose to the Vigilant was to take advantage of the blue whiting fishery, which takes place off the Irish continental shelf. Irish vessels began landing blue whiting for human consumption and the fishery is now very important for both vessels and the processing industry.
The Vigilant is skippered by Jack’s grandson, Marc Gallagher, and some of the crew, who hail from Donegal, Dublin, Clare and Cork, have been with the company since it was founded in 1999. Indeed, ashore in the processing plant, several employees are approaching fifty years with the company. Where possible, all catches are brought back to Killybegs for processing in the local factories, ensuring maximum benefit to the local community.
