On Friday, 15th November, while John Power was birdwatching near the Gold Coast Hotel in Co. Waterford, he spotted a lone dolphin high and dry on a bank of sand out in the bay in Dungarvan. John quickly got in touch with IWDG and sent us videos. John Cahill at the same time also called
We’re delighted to share that the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group has been awarded €6,800 through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Animal Welfare Charity Grant Programme. This funding is essential in supporting the continued role of our Live Stranding Coordinator, Gemma O’Connor. Based on the Mullet Peninsula—one of Ireland’s live stranding hotspots—Gemma
A trip to Lisbon to board the RV Celtic Explorer for a dedicated cetacean research cruise is a unique opportunity to enhance our understanding of marine ecosystems. On the 20th of October, we set sail southwards towards the Strait of Gibraltar, equipped with advanced technologies, including the SEA.AI thermal imaging camera. This device will continuously
The ObSERVE Phase II Aerial Project Reports have recently been published by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, providing an important assessment of the distribution and abundance of seabirds and cetaceans in Irish waters. Extensive aerial surveys were conducted by UCC in the Summer of 2021 and the Summer and Winter of 2022, and
Bringing Ocean Literacy to Local Schools The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) recently wrapped up its 2024 Floating Classroom program, an initiative designed to boost ocean literacy among primary school students. This year’s workshops, led by Education and Outreach Officer Claire Kelly, took place aboard the Celtic Mist in Kilrush Marina, providing local students
Mayo IWDG is a dedicated local group of IWDG members based in County Mayo. Our focus is on live-stranded dolphins, general strandings, and sightings. We’re a passionate team that not only responds to strandings but also collects DNA samples from deceased animals for the Natural History Museum’s Irish Cetacean Genetic Tissue Bank. Each coastal county
Strandings Overview for 2023 In September 2023, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) requested that IWDG include sea turtles as part of its remit. Although IWDG regularly logs sea turtle strandings in our database, volunteers were not previously asked to attend these events to collect additional data. We have now developed a sea turtle
Typically, a text message from Micheal Cottrell means good news, along the lines of an interesting whale sighting or some such, last Thursday was however the very worst of news, as his message read “Steve Wing died this evening on Cape”. You reach a certain age in your life when you get used to people
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) is thrilled to announce that we have been successful in securing funding under the Science Week Discover Programme from Research Ireland (formerly Science Foundation Ireland). As part of Science Week in November 2024, IWDG will host two exciting events: Be a Marine Biologist for a Day – Open
We wish to recruit a full-time IWDG Science Officer to contribute to the continued growth of the IWDG and deliver on its Strategic Plan. The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group is Ireland’s premier eNGO working in the marine environment. Established in 1990, the IWDG has built a credible reputation for effective advocacy for cetaceans (whales,