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John Cleary picking up his well-deserved award(Image: BIM)<\/p>\nPrestigious award for a top-tier Kinsale fishmonger<\/p>\n
14:36, 03 Dec 2025Updated 14:38, 03 Dec 2025<\/p>\n
John Cleary picking up his well-deserved award(Image: BIM)<\/p>\n
‘Master Fishmonger’ is one of the highest titles that can be awarded to a fishmonger – and a seafood expert in Kinsale has just been granted the honour.<\/strong><\/p>\n John Cleary, manager and fishmonger at Keohane\u2019s Seafood Shop<\/a> in Kinsale<\/a> has this week been certified as one of only five Master Fishmongers in Ireland. John earned the Master Fishmonger Standard, a top-tier UK certification that “recognises exceptional skill, knowledge, and commitment within the fishmonger trade.”<\/p>\n In order to win the title, John was required to demonstrate excellence across a rigorous set of competencies – including advanced knife skills, in-depth product knowledge, responsible sourcing, sustainability practices and outstanding customer service. John said it was an honour to reel in the award.<\/p>\n “I have more than a decade of hands-on seafood knowledge and a lifelong commitment to fresh food excellence. Achieving the Master Fishmonger Standard copper-fastens this. I joined the team at Keohane\u2019s in 2012 and, thirteen years later, I have filleted countless species\u2014some beautiful, some less so – and built strong relationships with fishermen across Ireland and Europe. I look forward to continuing to share my fish mongering skills with our valued customers.”<\/p>\n The four other fishmongers to earn the title of Master in Ireland are:<\/p>\n Meanwhile Alan Mitchell at Al\u2019s Fish Shop in Portarlington achieved the rank of Advanced Fishmonger. The fishmongers were nominated through Bord Iascaigh Mhara\u2019s (BIM\u2019s) Seafood Academy, a dedicated national forum established in July 2025 to support and elevate independent fishmongers.<\/p>\n BIM\u2019s head of Business Intelligence, Paul Ward, who worked with the nominated fishmongers, said, \u201cThis is a landmark day for Ireland\u2019s independent fishmongers, celebrating the expertise and dedication of local fishmongers and reinforcing the importance of high professional standards in delivering quality seafood to consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThese professionals represent the very best of the industry – the skill, the passion, and the dedication required to deliver top-quality seafood to Irish consumers every day.\u201d Mr Ward added that today\u2019s recognition “signals a bright future for Ireland\u2019s seafood retailers, setting a new benchmark of excellence and celebrating the people who keep Ireland\u2019s coastal and culinary traditions thriving.”<\/p>\n\n