FISH SHOP AIMS TO REEL IN CUSTOMERS
Much to fish lovers’ delight, Fermoy has its own fish shop again, and it aims to cater for all tastes.
Moonfish opened its doors on Thursday morning of last week with some delicious samples ready for its very first customers. Experienced chef, Kieran Fanning, pulled out all the stops in creating miniature delicacies from swordfish with a lovely cream sauce along with displays also of salmon, tuna, shark and other varieties.
The new shop, which prides itself in its large selection of fish, from domestic to exotic species at very affordable prices, is a partnership between Eric O’Shea, owner of Moonfish wholesale, and Mick Allen, a former electrician, who found himself out of work in the current economic climate and who will be involved with the practical side of the shop.
There is something for everyone in the new shop - domestic and exotic white fish, farm fish and shellfish, filleted or whole. Chowder mixes and ready meals are also available as well as a folder full of recipes for customers to take home for all the different types of fish sold in the shop. Eric couldn’t put it any better.
“We are here to please,” he says. “We are open to suggestions from anybody as to adding products, fish tasting, something they’d like us to order. We’ll see what people want, try to get it and sell it as cheaply as we can. We have access to all the different suppliers, and always look for the best quality and best price. We want to offer something different to other shops. We’ll try to cater for all different communities. 95% of the Irish buy their fish filleted, while the Asian and African communities prefer to buy their fish whole.”
Eric’s main business for the past five and a half years has been the wholesale trade. He has been selling fish to restaurants, hotels and shops in the area and as far away as Cashel, Dungarvan, Tralee and Bandon. He owned a fish shop in Clonmel years ago and also ran a fish stall in Fermoy’s old fish market. He decided to open the new shop in Fermoy only a month and a half ago.
“I have the contacts already. I saw an opening in Fermoy so I took a plunge,” says Eric. Originally a native of Fermoy, Eric knows his fish. He worked for the former fish market there 12 years ago.
“At the time it was a fish, fruit and vegetables shop; then a succession of people took over the outlet and it eventually closed last year,” he told The Avondhu. Eric then worked for Fermoy Fish, making deliveries and serving in the shop.
“I never dreamt of cutting fish. I’d much rather be a footballer, but that didn’t quite work out for me,” a smiling Eric concluded.
The shop, which is located on Newmarket Street, near the library, is open Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 6pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm.
Published:
Thursday 10th December 7:33pm
