Martin is mad about fish

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Must say I like this fellow.

Seems very genuine and passionate and full of joi de vivre.
He's right about the fact we can get Guatamalan coffee beans into the country but very little fish away from the coastal towns.

Gas though the way he pronounces important tings

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Cardinal Richelieu

I live in a costal town and its nearly impossible to get fresh fish unless I fish for it myself or know one of the fishermen.

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I live near an inland town in Mayo and we have a fishmonger who has a mobile shop which comes once a week.
I must make a pledge to get more fish off him this year although I'd say we are pretty regular customers.
I find the selection at the local Supervalu or Tesco to be not too endearing.

What do you reckon is happening to the fish landed in your town ...?
or is it not a fishing port ?

Cardinal Richelieu

I am in Rush, mainly shellfish landed and most of that ends up in the Dublin restaurant trade or export. You would kill for a fresh herring, considering that 150 years ago the boats from this area of the country would journey to the West coast to sell salted herrings and fish it shows you that things have declined. I asked in a couple of fishmongers in Howth about herrings and they told me that most of them are landed in the West these days and sold to the Spanish who pay better prices so rarely do they get any in Howth. A friend that worked in a Donegal Fish factory told me they mainly export all their catch to Europe or Asia.

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I grew up in Sutton near to Howth and I remember my mother driving out to Howth in the 70s to get some fresh catch from the merchants along the quay.

Interesting (and depressing) about the Herring trade decline within Ireland.
You mention 150yrs ago - are there any local histories about how fishing trade in Ireland has changed through the ages. I'd imagine it would make interesting reading.

I know from my limited travels that the Finnish and Nordic peoples use Herring even at breakfast meals.

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