Where to buy fresh oysters in Ireland

Serve them chilled with lemon and a shallot dressing, add them to a celebratory seafood platter or cook them on the barbecue with garlic butter. Whatever you have planned, Ireland has an excellent choice of oyster farms, traditional fishmongers and online seafood businesses.

Availability, prices and delivery arrangements can change, particularly around busy periods, so contact the supplier or check its website before placing a large order.

Kelly Oysters is a family-run business that has been growing oysters and shellfish in Galway Bay for more than 60 years.

Its online shop sells fresh baskets and boxes of oysters for home delivery, as well as oyster knives and gift selections. Orders are normally dispatched by courier on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and you can also arrange collection from the farm.

Kelly produces both rock oysters and seasonal Galway native flat oysters. The native variety is generally available from September to April and is known for its rich, buttery flavour.

Good for: Home delivery, gifts, farm collection and trying native Irish oysters in season.

DK Connemara Oysters farms its oysters in Ballinakill Bay, close to Letterfrack and Connemara National Park.

You can contact the farm directly to order oysters, which are packed for delivery from the west of Ireland. Its website states that orders are dispatched on Mondays and Fridays, with the oysters carefully packed to reach customers in fresh condition.

The farm also runs oyster experiences, making it an interesting stop for anyone visiting Connemara to find out how oysters are grown and taste them close to where they were harvested.

Good for: Farm-direct ordering, Connemara visitors and learning more about oyster production.

Achill Oysters is a small family-run oyster farm on Achill Island, with a fishing heritage rooted in Ireland’s west coast.

Its online shop offers several quantities, from a dozen live oysters to larger boxes suitable for parties, weddings and other celebrations. The oysters are harvested from the waters around Achill Island and shipped directly to you.

The choice of smaller and larger boxes makes this a useful option whether you’re arranging dinner for two or putting together a generous seafood table.

Good for: Online ordering, party quantities and a taste of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Rossmore Oysters has been growing oysters in Cork Harbour since 1969.

Its family farm sells both rock oysters and native Irish oysters through its online shop. The native oysters are seasonal, usually appearing from September to April, while rock oysters are sold in several sizes and quantities. Oyster knives are available too, which is useful if you want to get everything you need in one order.

Rossmore is also involved in work to restore native oyster populations.

Good for: Cork oysters, native varieties and ordering directly from the producer.

Carlingford Oyster Company has been farming oysters in Carlingford Lough since 1974.

The family business grows its oysters in mesh bags on steel trestles, where the movement of the lough brings naturally occurring plankton and nutrients to them. Its premium Louët-Feisser oysters are hand-selected for their shape, strong shells and high meat content.

The company’s website is a good starting point for contacting the producer, while Carlingford oysters and Louët-Feisser oysters are also stocked periodically by online Irish seafood retailers such as Eat More Fish (see below).

Good for: Premium oysters, County Louth visitors and an established Irish oyster producer.

Eat More Fish is a handy option when you would like to compare oysters from several Irish growing areas in one place.

The business provides delivery throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland, although individual varieties can be seasonal or available only in limited quantities.

Because the selection changes, it’s worth browsing ahead rather than relying on one particular oyster always being available.

Good for: Nationwide delivery, comparing different Irish oysters and adding fish or other shellfish to your order.

For shoppers in and around Dublin, Kish Fish offers Irish-grown oysters through its retail fishmongers.

The company lists fresh Irish gigas oysters among its year-round seafood range. Its shops include locations in Howth, Coolock and Bow Street in Dublin, along with a counter at Avoca Dunboyne in County Meath.

Stocks can vary, so phone the shop before making a special journey or when ordering for a particular date.

Good for: Dublin and Meath shoppers, expert fishmonger advice and buying other seafood at the same time.

Star Seafoods sells fresh Irish oysters from Glenbeigh in County Kerry.

The oysters are available by the dozen and delivered live nationwide, making the business another practical choice if you don’t have a specialist fishmonger nearby.

Check the latest delivery schedule before ordering, particularly when planning a weekend gathering or special occasion.

Good for: County Kerry oysters and nationwide home delivery.

Millbay Oysters are farmed by Rooney Fish in Kilkeel.

The Pacific oysters are grown in Carlingford Lough before being cleaned, graded and packed at Rooney Fish’s County Down premises. Millbay Oysters received the maximum three stars at the 2025 Great Taste Awards - the second time the product had achieved the top rating.

Millbay Oysters were also named Supreme Champion at the 2018 Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards. You can contact Rooney Fish directly to ask about buying arrangements or suitable stockists.

Good for: An award-winning Northern Ireland oyster and larger or specialist orders.

Before placing an order, check:

where the oysters were grown;

whether they will arrive closed or already shucked;

what size or grade they are;

when they will be dispatched or available for collection;

how they should be transported and stored;

how soon they should be eaten;

whether an oyster knife can be added to the order.

Ordering ahead is particularly important for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter and summer celebrations, when demand can be high.

As a rough guide, allow three to six oysters per person when serving them as a starter.

Six to 12 per person may be more appropriate when oysters form a big part of a seafood platter. Consider adding a few extra if you are shucking oysters for the first time, in case any shells are damaged or difficult to open.

Try:

finely chopped shallot with red-wine vinegar;

lemon juice and black pepper;

cucumber and apple dressing;

a dash of hot sauce;

garlic and herb butter for grilled oysters;

breadcrumbs and Parmesan for oysters cooked under the grill.

Keep the oysters chilled until you are ready to open and serve them, and always follow the storage guidance provided by the supplier.

Oysters are molluscs and can cause a serious allergic reaction in people with a mollusc or shellfish allergy. Anyone with a known allergy should avoid them and check ingredients and cross-contamination information carefully.

Raw oysters can also carry food-safety risks, including norovirus. Buy only from a reputable food business, follow all storage and use-by instructions, and do not eat an oyster if its shell is damaged or it smells unusual after opening. People who are immunocompromised or otherwise particularly vulnerable to infection are advised against eating uncooked oysters.