In the early 1950's, Michael Kelly, while watching the rest of his siblings emigrate to England, decided that there might be a future in the Oyster and he began to add value to it by selling oysters in small quantities throughout the oyster season rather than just shipping them in bulk to Europe where they were often sold on as French or Dutch Oysters. In 1955 he supplied the Oyster Festival in Clarenbridge, This was the beginning of a long association with the famous Paddy Burke's Oyster Bar. This association helped the business to grow so that by the 1960's Michael was one of the main Oyster suppliers, supplying quality Galway Oysters direct to Hotels and Restaurants around Ireland, including the famous Dublin eating haunts of the fifties and sixties Jammets and The Dolphin.

In 1963 he got married and with the help of his wife Bernadette they grew the business expanding into the export market and by the 1970's were exporting large quantities of Sea Urchins and Clams to France and Spain. In 1980 Michael Kelly (Shellfish) Ltd. was formed.

The 1980's also saw a move into a new premises and the purchase of an oyster grading machine which enabled the move onto the German market supplying fresh Kelly Galway Oysters direct to Hotels and Restaurants all around Germany.

Their son's Michael and Diarmuid joined the business in the 80's and an expansion into the Swiss market was achieved.

The 1990's saw continued growth with a further upgrade of the premises to meet new European legislation achieving full approval in 1992 with the grant of approval No. IRL2GY0010.

The 1990's also saw continued growth in all sectors of its shellfish sales. Bringing Michael Kelly (Shellfish) Ltd. into the new millennium as one of the main suppliers of molluscan shellfish in Ireland and across Europe. Take a look at the location.