It’s been over 30 years since the IWDG first headed out into the Shannon Estuary from Carrigaholt in west Clare, in search of bottlenose dolphins. We didn’t find any ! but the following day on 3 May, we did and the IWDG Shannon Dolphin Project had started. To celebrate the 30 years, share
The Shannon Dolphin Project has been running for 30 years, barely three dolphin generations. However. we have gained some knowledge on their movements and use of the estuary, identified important foraging areas, documented calving rates, adult and calf survival and understand a little about their social structure. This work has shown the estuary is a
In celebration of this year’s National Heritage Week, the IWDG education team invite future marine biologists to explore the world of Ireland’s ocean giants at its headquarters in Kilrush, Co. Clare. In keeping with this year’s living heritage theme of passing knowledge and skills down through the generations, this event is aimed at children ages
After 2000, and the designation of the Shannon Estuary as a Special Area of Conservation for bottlenose dolphins, the Shannon Dolphin Project settled down. Dolphin-watching had become well established with the launch of two purpose-built dolphin-watching boats. Following the SAC designation, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) based a Conservation Ranger in west Clare
The Shannon Dolphin Project developed fast after finally kicking off in 1993, after a year’s delay. In 1995, Dolphinwatch Carriagaholt, started advertising dolphin-watching trips following a couple of years testing the water. Geoff Magee was still fishing in the estuary, and had to wash down the decks of his lobster potting vessel Fiona David and ready
“we normally pick the dolphins up around here” said skipper Joe Aston as we steamed west of Kilcredaun Head in the Shannon Estuary. Seconds later two large, adult bottlenose dolphins came to the bow of the White Bank a 50ft gillnetter which was heading for a week’s fishing west of Loop Head. A few minutes
The Shannon Dolphin Project (SDP) is offering several volunteer internships positions during the 2023 field season. The internship runs from May – September 2023 and the minimum duration for successful applicants is 10 weeks. Background: The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) is a registered charity and NGO in the West of Ireland. The group have been
Sorcha Maguire – Shannon Dolphin Project Intern 2022 My Journey with the Irish whale and dolphin group began under what seemed at the time to be very unusual circumstances. In 2020 during the very first covid-19 lockdown. I was in my third year of studying freshwater and marine biology in Galway, and as part of
Kirsten Wohak – Shannon Dolphin Project Intern 2022 The work varied so much that I never got bored I am Kirsten Wohak and I was given the opportunity to intern at the Shannon Dolphin Project in Kilrush for the past 6 weeks. In my case, this was not a given as my background is in
Megan Keville- Shannon Dolphin Project Intern 2022 Came for a thesis stayed for the dolphins! Hi, my name is Megan, and I am one of the Interns working with the Shannon Dolphin Centre this summer. Originally from England, I came over to Ireland in January for my master’s degree in Marine Conservation at ATU (Galway).