THE first commercially caught Irish wild salmon of 2014 will shortly be found on sale in Harrods after a Co Clare company landed a 12-month deal to supply its trademark product at the world-famous department store’s prestigious slicing area.
Burren Smoked Irish Wild Salmon is produced by The Burren Smokehouse and will be offered for sale at Harrods Food Hall in the latest commercial success for the Lisdoonvarna-based company which already supplies products to KaDeWe Berlin, Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason.
The family-run company sources its wild salmon from commercial fisherman Michael Murphy on the River Nore in Co Kilkenny. Last week Michael, accompanied by Burren Smokehouse owner Birgitta Hedin-Curtin, landed the first salmon near the village of Inistioge.
“Michael catches the salmon in the traditional way with snap-netting and in traditional flat-bottomed fishing vessels called cots. The 12-month deal agreed with Harrods is pleasing for us considering it coincides with the 25th anniversary of the company being established,” Hedin-Curtin said.
Galway salmon farms
In a statement, Brian Curran, PRO of Galway Bay Against Salmon Cages has congratulated candidates who opposed BIM’s proposal for twin salmon farms for Galway Bay in getting elected to Galway city and county councils, but added:
"Although Minister Coveney is expected to make a decision shortly, the now expected government reshuffle could see a decision deferred for a further period. A complicating factor is the continuing disquiet about the reliability of scientific advice put forward from the Marine Institute, " he said.
Moy on form
The Moy had its best week so far with a reported catch of 197 salmon. However, it was a difficult week as water levels fluctuated but conditions did improve and, as a result, the middle and upper stretches recorded some good catches.
Best fly lures
Newport House reported some good catches for their guests. On the Newport River, Niall Berwick caught and released two salmon, while Richard McDowell, David Nevin, Martin Hughes and Ian Conn all scored on Lough Beltra.
Best flies were Beltra Badger and Shrimp and Cascade patterns. Contact Newport House at 098-41222.
Bronze for Irish women
The Irish Ladies Fly Fishing Association (Ilfa) took bronze position in the recent home international on Trawsfynydd Lake in Snowdonia, Wales, with Madeleine Kelly winning the Jannett Taylor Trophy for the heaviest fish.
On competition day, the weather was cold and cloudy but the encouraging manner of team coach Hubert Smith motivated the team. Hubert was ably assisted by flytyer Mick McShane who got the flies spot-on for final day of the competition.
Next year’s event will be held on Grafham Water in England. To join Ilfa, visit irishladiesflyfishing.com.
Rupert Jeffares honoured
At the RNLI Annual Presentation of Awards in the Barbican Centre in London recently, Rupert Jeffares, lifeboat operations manager with Howth, was awarded a Bar to the Gold Badge, the second- highest award made by the charity.
Rupert has dedicated 50 years to saving lives at sea, having joined the lifeboat crew in the mid-60s he later took on the role of authorising the launch of the lifeboat and day-to-day station management.
Owen Medland, divisional operations manager, said: “Rupert Jeffares demonstrates the selflessness of the volunteers ashore in support of our crews. It is such individuals that make the service world class and it is fantastic to see him acknowledged for his dedicated service.”
angling@irishtimes.com
