Whale Watch Ireland 2026 Results

IWDG report on Whale Watch Ireland 2026 

On Saturday 23^rd May the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) delivered another Whale Watch Ireland event. All Ireland Whale Watch day, now in its 24^th year, comprises free, guided land-based whale watches, which this year was planned for and delivered at 18 sites in 14 coastal counties, throughout the four provinces.  The main objective of Whale Watch Ireland is to raise awareness of the 26 species of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoise) recorded to date in Irish waters, and to promote their conservation by highlighting public participation in our biological recording schemes, which encourage members of the public to report sightings and strandings to the IWDG.  This event continues to be one of the largest in the Irish wildlife calendar.

We maintained the changes we introduced in 2024 and so once again brought it forward to coincide with Ireland’s Biodiversity Week, thus enabling us to introduce Whale Watch Ireland 2026 to a potentially more relevant domestic audience, than was previously the case, when it was held during Heritage Week.  Another factor in our decision to switch the event was a clear trend of worsening weather in recent years during August, with typically more reliable weather for outdoor events in late May.  Again, this proved to be a good decision as the weather on the day at many sites was very good, with high pressure firmly established over the country.

The timing of this year’s event meant fewer overseas visitors to our watches, and that’s ok, as our target audience is ideally people living in Ireland who can contribute to our recording schemes.  For some, this was their first encounter with a wild cetacean in Irish waters, which can be a powerful experience.  Those attending were provided with interpretation by IWDG personnel, who have considerable experience regarding cetacean identification, ecology, biology and the conservation threats facing our marine mammals. An assortment of whale artifacts were on view at some sites, and there was plenty of material and handouts from both IWDG and Inis, which included the recently re-printed 2^nd edition of the “Coastal Whale Trail” map of Ireland, which was produced with funding support from our core sponsors Inis www.seathebeauty.net.

This year’s event was attended by almost 900 wildlife enthusiasts across 18 sites, representing a significant (76%) increase compared to 2024, which may have been expected with the increase in site coverage from 14 to 18 (28.5%).  However, it’s possible that the fine weather combined with our decision to commission a series of 10 radio ads with Bauer Media which aired on Today FM, introducing Whale Watch Ireland and indeed Biodiversity Week 2026 to a potential weekly national audience of 954,000.  While we can’t control the weather, the radio advertising is a controllable element and one we’ll give serious consideration to in 2027 based on this year’s improved results.

At this year’s event 14 sites (77%) described the conditions on the day as fair- good which not surprisingly resulted in a higher sighting rate, with cetacean sightings at 11 of 18 sites (61%), comparing favourably with 57% in 2025. At the risk of being labelled as biased, it’s my view that the standout result at this year’s event was at Cloghna Head, Co. Cork which enjoyed hundreds (best estimate 250) of very obliging common dolphins that showed well in Rosscarbery Bay. They were present before, during and after the watch and could be seen with ease by all of the 100+ participants, even without optics.  Three other sites (Slea Head, Co. Kerry, Loop and Black Head Co. Clare) produced sightings of >1 cetacean species which included single minke whales.  No animals were recorded at 7 sites, most of which (57%) were along the Irish Sea.

Montage of images of people, animals and locations at this years Whale Watch Ireland event

Some locations from top left in clockwise direction: 

• Top left, IWDG member Maisie Norton on camera duty at Clogher Head, Co. Louth
• Group watching at Clogher Head, Co. Louth led by Breffni Martin
• Harbour porpoise pair surfacing off Howth Head, Co. Dublin © Dave O’Connor
• Bray Head, Co. Wicklow watch led by Siofra Quigley
• Greenore Point, near Rosslare, Co. Wexford with Brian Glanville
• Helvic Head, Co. Waterford, sunny but blustery, as always led by Andrew Malcolm & Ann Trimble
• Cloghna Head, Rosscarbery Bay, West Cork enjoying good views of common dolphins (photo)
• Bottlenose dolphins at the Bolus Hd, Co. Kerry event led by Christina Winkler
• 2 shots from last year’s winners, Slea Head, Co. Kerry with the incomparable Nick Massett
• Simon Berrow discussing the finer points of whale watching at Loop Head, Co. Clare
• Black Head scored big with IWDG Education & outreach officer Cian O Nialan and Eva Lambert, where both minke whale and Hbr. Porpoise were not only seen but photographed (see images)
• Nimmo’s pier in Galway city for the 3^rd consecutive year produced an early cameo by Nimmo the semi -resident bottlenose dolphin. Thanks again to Cilia Kootstra for leading it.
• Asleam cliffs, Achill had blustery conditions, which caused carnage for tripod mounted scopes! Led by IWDG’s Live Stranding Officer, Gemma O’ Connor.
• Kilcummin Head, Co. Mayo, saw Angela O’ Kelly stand in at short notice and she made this event her own by providing refreshments and picking up dog poop ahead of it. Watch out Siun, mom’s got your number!
• Participant with Inis shoulder Bag and bottlenose dolphins at Mullaghmore Hd., Co. Sligo, thanks to Rossa Meade & Darren Craig for leading again.
• At the very northern tip of the island, Banba’s Crown, Malin Head, Co. Donegal was led by Trish Murphy
• Bloody Bridge, Co. Down. Big thanks again to Andy Carden, who was joined by IWDG’s Jo Greene 

 IWDG is very pleased with the results of this year’s event.  The feedback from the watch leaders was very positive with everyone happy with the decision to run it earlier in the year and later in the day between 17:00-19:00. We hope that among those who attended, there will be some new members and dedicated whale watchers who are willing to volunteer some time and energy in furthering our understanding of the whales and dolphins that live in Irish coastal waters. In 2023 we said that our challenge, post pandemic, was to find new and innovative ways to rebuild this important wildlife event. This process is now well under way.

From all of us in IWDG, we extend a huge thanks to both Inis for their continued support for Whale Watch day, and to the Irish Environment Network (IEN) for delivery of Biodiversity Week in Ireland, which provides both important funding and momentum to Whale Watch Ireland and so many other natural history events in Ireland. Special acknowledgment to all our local event leaders, who gave up their time to lead their local events and without whom there can be no event. In no particular order they are: Breffni Martin, Conal O’ Flanaghan, Siofra Quigley, Brian Glanville, Andrew Malcolm, Pádraig Whooley, Christina Winkler, Nick Massett, Simon Berrow, Cian O’ Nilan, Cilia Kootstra, Gemma O’ Connor, Angela O’ Kelly, Rossa Meade, Trish Murphy, Rachele Kempston,  Ian Enlander & Andy Carden. We also extend a big thanks to all our members and local groups who attended and offered their support on the day.

 By Pádraig Whooley, IWDG Event organizer

Even serious Whale Watchers need a break!, Cloghna Head, West Cork, Whale Watch Ireland 2026 © Marcin Benasiak

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