Whale Watch Ireland 2025, Saturday 17th May @ 17:00
On Saturday 17th May, IWDG in association with Inis, invite you to Whale Watch Ireland 2025 between 5:00-7:00 PM. This annual event, now in its 23rd year, comprises free and guided whale watches at local headlands and vantage points, as part of All-Ireland whale watch day. This year’s event is again being held earlier than usual in order to coincide with National Biodiversity Week Ireland which runs between May 16th-25th. These simultaneous land-based watches at around a dozen sites around the Irish coast provide IWDG researchers, whale enthusiasts and Citizen Scientists alike with a unique overview of whale and dolphin activity on the day and you can play an important part.
While there are of course no guarantees of sightings, given reasonable weather you have a good chance of seeing some of the marine species that can be viewed locally. We advise participants to dress appropriately for the weather conditions on the day. Please note, there are no boats involved and no bookings necessary. There may be a short, elevated walk from the meeting point to your watch site, so sensible footwear is recommended, and your local watch may not be wheelchair accessible. You should bring binoculars, your sense of humour and refreshments, but please leave your pets at home.
This event is suitable for all ages and is aimed at everyone from the novice wildlife enthusiast to more experienced naturalist, with a keen interest in marine wildlife and biological recording. In the event of unsuitable weather your watch leader may need to cancel your local event at short notice; so, if any doubt, please check in with them using the contact details below or on www.iwdg.ie/events. But don’t hesitate to contact them if you’ve any further questions in the lead up to your event.
| Location | Meeting Pt. | Leader name | Phone | |
| Clogher Head, Co. Louth | Port Oriel Upper car park | Breffni Martin | 087-9145363 | bmartin@regintel.com |
| Howth Head, Co. Dublin | Balscadden Car park | Ronan Hickey | 086-3391142 | ronan.hici@gmail.com |
| Bray Head, Co. Wicklow | Raheen Cliff walk car Park | Siofra Quigley | 086-0613131 | s.quigley1@outlook.com |
| Hook Head, Co. Wexford | Lighthouse | Rory O’ Hanlon | 086-1983380 | Rory.OHanlon@npws.gov.ie |
| Helvic Head, Co. Waterford | The High Car park | Andrew Malcolm
|
087- 7952061 | oxmoron@gmail.com |
| Cloghna Hd,Co. Cork (Between Long Strand & Ownahincha)
|
Galley Hd. View Pt. | Pádraig Whooley | 086- 3850568 | padraig.whooley@iwdg.ie |
| Slea Head, Co. Kerry | Layby | Nick Massett | 087- 6736341 | nickmassett@hotmail.com |
| Loop Hd., Co. Clare | Lighthouse | Simon Berrow | 086- 8545450 | simon.berrow@iwdg.ie |
| Nimmo’s Pier, Galway City | Parking at the Claddagh | Cilia Kootstra | 00 31 611156327 | cilia.kootstra@research.atu.ie |
| Erris Head, Co. Mayo | Gubastuckaun, What3Words/// cooperation.open.lightly | Tom Breathnach | 087- 2688435 | tunas-insoles-01@icloud.com |
| Mullaghmore Head, Co. Sligo | Layby | Rossa Meade | 086- 0632081 | rossameade@gmail.com |
| Inishowen Head, Co. Donegal | Shrove Lookout tower | Brendan Farren | 086-2187242 | brendanrua@gmail.com |
| Portmuck, Co. Antrim | Car Park | Ian Enlander | 078 49853549 | ian.enlander1@hotmail.com |
| Bloody Bridge, Co. Down | Car park | Andy Carden | 077 62019160 | andycarden58@hotmail.com |
Media or general enquiries to:
Pádraig Whooley, IWDG Sightings Officer
Phone: 353 (0)86 3850568, e: sightings@iwdg.ie
Selection of images from last year’s Whale Watch Ireland event