A Donegal fishmonger who's a regular in Athlone

Of all the retailers and business people operating in Athlone, not many reside in Donegal. Fishmonger Michael Rose is an exception. Every Thursday and Friday morning, the shutters go up on Michael"s distinctive blue and white van at St Mary"s Square and he lays out an impressive array of fresh goods. He attempts to keep seasonal variation to a minimum, and as a result shoppers can pick up smoked haddock, kippers, whiting, cod, trout, salmon, sea bass, fresh haddock, mackerel, herring, plaice and silver hake from his van at most times of the year. Michael met with the Westmeath Independent last week to discuss his routine of travelling to the midlands every week to sell fish. A native of Donegal - 'between Donegal town and Killybegs' - selling fish was something which ran in Michael"s family. His father worked as a fishmonger carrying out door-to-door sales. Michael explained that, in coming to Athlone every week, he is carrying on a family tradition started by his father-in-law, Robert Hutchinson, 26 years ago. 'There was another man who sold fish years ago and he was packing it up, so my father-in-law felt that Athlone would be a good spot and he started coming here in 1983. 'Given that Athlone"s in the heart of the country and away from the sea, it was a bit of a novelty at that time for a bit of fresh fish from the sea to be sold in the town,' he said. Michael worked with his father-in-law in Athlone for a number of years. Then, in 1999, Robert decided he 'wanted to take a back seat,' so Michael purchased the van and became its sole operator. Each week he travels from Donegal to Mountbellew, where he operates the fish van on Wednesdays. Then it"s on to Athlone, where Michael stays at a house in the centre of town on Wednesday and Thursday nights. 'It"s about a three hour drive between Athlone and where I live in Donegal. I stay over here on Wednesday nights because it"s easier for me to do it that way. I"d have to be up at around 5am on Thursdays if I was coming direct from Donegal, and I"m getting a bit old for that now!' he said. Michael receives a fresh fish delivery in Athlone on Thursday mornings and operates the fish van from 9am to 6pm. He trades again the next day but generally finishes up earlier on Friday afternoons in order to get home to Donegal for the weekend. 'I only sell my fish in the midlands. There"s a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into this as well in terms of buying the fish, filleting it and all of that,' he said. Most of Michael"s fish comes from the Atlantic, off the north west of the country. He buys from a range of suppliers, leaving the fishing to others. 'I never fancied fishing myself,' he said. In recent years the health benefits of eating fish have been widely publicised in the media. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland recommends that consumers eat two portions of fish per week, one of which should be an oily fish such as salmon. A 2006 report from a researchers in Stockholm found that women who regularly ate oily fish that is rich in omega-3 acids and Vitamin D - such as salmon, mackerel and herring - had a much lower risk of developing kidney cancer compared to those who ate no fish at all. Another study in recent years claimed that eating these types of fish could reduce men"s risk of developing prostate cancer. Michael said that his sales have benefited from this kind of coverage. 'In the last few years business has been pretty good. A lot of the younger generation are going in for a bit of fish now. Especially younger women and people on diets. 'People come in to me asking for oily fish because they know that it"s good for them. I think people have become more health-conscious in general,' he commented. Many of his customers are long-time regulars. 'I see the same faces every week and I enjoy having a chat with them. They"re all sound people. Hopefully the fact that they keep coming back is a sign they"re happy with what they"re getting. I try to stay as competitive as I can, price-wise. It can be a tough business given the times that are in it,' he commented. Michael"s trade has not been immune to the recession, and he"s seen that his sales have been affected recently. 'In the last month or so I"ve noticed a definite change in it,' he said. 'It"s a competitive market but I try to keep up with it as best I can.' Asked about his future plans for the business, he said he hopes he"ll be travelling from Donegal to serve the people of Athlone on a weekly basis for many years to come. 'I hope to continue it for as long as I"m fit to do it. That"s the plan anyway. I don"t know anything else,' he concluded.