River Lee salmon fit for a queen

As you’re reading this, it’s quite possible Queen Elizabeth II is tucking into a 10lb salmon freshly caught on the River Lee.

English Market fishmonger Pat O’Connell purchased the salmon minutes after it was caught last Thursday, and immediately decided to send it to the queen to mark the first anniversary of her visit to Cork.

“I rang up Buckingham Palace and asked if her majesty would like it. They told me yes and I got UPS to courier it over,” said Mr O’Connell.

He was told the fish arrived at Windsor Castle yesterday morning.

“I also enclosed a note saying I hoped it would remind her of her wonderful visit to Cork and the English Market and that it would put a smile on her face.”

British ambassador Dominick Chilcott, who was in the English Market yesterday to unveil a plaque commemorating the visit, said it is well known that the queen “loves fresh salmon”.

He said he could understand why the queen was charmed by Cork when she visited last May.

Mr Chilcott said there was no doubt the “royal icing” on the queen’s four-day visit to Ireland had been Cork, especially as she and her husband, Prince Philip, were able to go on a walkabout and meet the people.

“The relations between us [the two countries] were never stronger and more settled then they are now,” he said.

The ambassador opened a photographic exhibition at the market dedicated to the queen’s visit. The pictures will be on show until the end of summer.