This year for Heritage Week, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group hosted two special events to connect people with Ireland’s rich marine heritage. Our first event was a series of Open Days at the Shannon Dolphin Centre in Kilrush, which ran for five days. We welcomed many visitors, both locals and tourists, who enjoyed free
August not only brought us great weather, it also brought back the basking sharks. Earlier this year, the sharks had been spotted feeding around the west coast of Ireland, however they seem to have returned to the West of Clare under different circumstances. Most people are familiar with iconic images of slow-moving basking sharks with
Celtic Mist Survey Cruise Leg 10: Arklow-Kinsale Skipper: Pat First Mate: Angela Marine Biologist: Patrick Marine Biologist: Sarah Crew: Rosalee, Marian, Eileen, Aoife Hello there! My name is Sarah and this summer I joined Leg 10 of the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group’s coastal survey on board the RV Celtic Mist. This was my second year volunteering
On Thursday the 7th at Helvic, Co. Waterford, two juvenile Sowerby’s beaked whales live stranded – one male and one female. Tragically, both whales did not survive. Beaked whales are deep diving species, plunging to depths of 1–2km in the canyons beyond the continental shelf. Their presence in coastal waters so far from their natural habitat
Summer Sightings Summary Roundup 2025 As we are now past the halfway mark in the year, it’s as good a time as any to take a look at what the sightings data might be telling us. With a running total of 1,386 validated unique records year to date, we may be having a quieter year
On the evening of Sunday July 27th, two rare deep-diving True’s beaked whales live stranded at Kilcummin Back Strand, Co. Mayo. (Castlelacken on google maps). This mother and calf pair were seen swimming rapidly into shallow waters just before peak high tide, and subsequently beaching themselves on the shore. Unfortunately, the mother whale died within moments of
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) welcomes the announcement of restrictions on fishing on vessels larger than 18 meters within 6 nautical miles of the coast and baselines. This measure is very welcome as it safeguards forage fish and other species which are so important to support the marine ecosystem. The IWDG acknowledges
Celtic Mist Survey Cruise Leg 07: Derry-Carlingford Skipper: Fiacc First Mate: Jane Marine Biologist: Patrick Crew: Aoife, David, Sorley, Robbie Day 1: Foggy Hellos in Derry We arrived in Derry under a classic Irish fog, the kind that makes everything feel a little more mysterious. One by one, the crew trickled in from all corners;
Celtic Mist Leg 05: Rossaveal – Killybegs Skipper: Pat First mate: Jane Marine biologist: Patrick Assistant Marine biologist: Bláthnaid Crew: Ruth, Christina, Fiona, Theresa Our week aboard the Celtic Mist started in Rossaveal (a small Gaeltacht village & ferry port for the Aran Islands), with the clever thinking of Pat the Skipper, our food supply
Blog 1: On the 19th of June, PhD student Cilia Kootstra and Atlantic Whale Deal project leader Emilie De Loose left Galway and boarded RV Celtic Explorer for a three-week survey. A day earlier the Sea.AI Sentry thermal camera, nicknamed Wall-E, had been mounted on handrail of the crow’s nest and excitement was running high.