Organisation: Irish Whale and Dolphin Group

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Rescue mission for a stranded striped dolphin off the Long Strand, Ballybunion. July 2025. Pictures: Ballybunion Sea & Cliff Rescue / Irish Whale and Dolphin Group</p>

outdoors

Increase in dolphin strandings — here's what to do if you see a live dolphin stuck on the beach

Ballybunion Sea and Cliff Rescue Service (BSCR) and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) were involved in a rescue operation for a stranded striped dolphin at Long Strand, Ballybunion in Kerry recently.

<p>In April this year the Irish government announced the designation of a new national park in West Kerry. Covering more than 70,000 acres, it is the largest national park in the country. Kerry National Marine Park is also the first Irish National Park to incorporate marine features within its boundary and remit</p>

outdoors

Video: Shark hit by boat in Kerry has its response captured on the 'fitbit' it wears

<p>Whales have been spotted along the coast of Ireland recently. Picture: AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)</p>

outdoors

Here's where you might spot a whale following sightings in Kerry and Donegal

news

Ireland set to miss marine protection target, report shows

outdoors

Anja Murray: Dozens of whales spotted along the Waterford coast this year

outdoors

Watch: Six stranded dolphins rescued from Kerry beach

Kerry County Council considered leaving whale carcass on beach to 'let nature take its course'

Council warned it might have to fence off the remains of the fin whale and leave it to naturally decompose

Wed, 11 Oct, 2023

Fears grow over safety of whales in Bantry Bay

Concern is mounting for the safety of three northern bottlenose whales who have spent more than a week in Bantry Bay in Co Cork. The trio, normally seen in deep seas, arrived in the bay 10 days ago.

Mon, 28 Aug, 2023

Remains of 50-tonne fin whale buried in Co Kerry

Samples taken from the whale will form part of a bio-bank of material available to research students

Wed, 23 Aug, 2023

Shannon dolphins could be endangered by green energy plan, say campaigners

Irish Whale and Dolphin Group calls introduction of speed limits and noise monitoring to protect endangered species

Wed, 23 Aug, 2023

'Time is running out': Delay in legislation to protect marine areas criticised

Marine protection bill due to be published in May will now not be publish until after Dáil recess in autumn

Wed, 02 Aug, 2023

Still no decision on disposal of whale washed up on Kerry beach

Signs have gone up warning the public that the whale is now a health hazard

Wed, 12 Jul, 2023

Marine Protected Areas must control fishing to be effective

"The aim will be to protect at least 30% of Ireland’s seascape within MPAs by the end of this decade."

Tue, 11 Jul, 2023

Nothing 'green' about floating litter into the sky

No balloon is 'environmentally friendly' and every released balloon becomes litter and can be harmful, according to a study. Do you really want to celebrate a birthday or graduation or commemorate a loved one with plastic waste?

Tue, 07 Mar, 2023

On a mission to boost marine habitat health

Greater Skellig hot spot included in same league as the Galápagos Islands and the Great Barrier Reef

Wed, 15 Feb, 2023

Toothbrush discovered in stomach of rare whale found on Kerry beach

The whale washed up on Brandon Bay on November 28 prompting a post-mortem, which revealed the plastic item inside the adult female.

Thu, 08 Dec, 2022

Juanita Browne: Give some really wild Christmas gifts this year

Unusual art, tweety toys that make bird sounds, or calendars and annual subscriptions — there's something for every nature lover here

Wed, 16 Nov, 2022

Juanita Browne: Going wild at school — and other valuable lessons

As well as the nature table there are so many interactive resources available to help teach children about our native animals, plants and birds. Check these ones out...

Tue, 20 Sep, 2022

Irish scientists help unravel the secret behind basking sharks’ social circles: It’s all about sex

Circle of friends: Basking sharks off the west coast of Ireland were discovered to be engaging in gentle fin-to-fin contact and breaching behaviour all in search of a mate

Sun, 11 Sep, 2022

Anja Murray: Whales are on the move and Cork and Kerry are great places for whale-watching

In Iceland, ironically, income from whale watching tourism far outweighs the income from commercial whale hunting

Wed, 10 Aug, 2022

Rehearsal of Russian Navy Day parade in Kronshtadt

Marine conservationist criticises Irish reaction to planned Russian naval exercise

'A lot of assumptions being made about what the Russian navy are going to do, but the truth is we just don’t know'

Wed, 26 Jan, 2022

Irish researchers help identify entirely new whale species

The new type of whale is believed to be one of about 1.5 million as-yet undiscovered species in the deep ocean

Mon, 01 Nov, 2021

Public urged to stop 'swarming' Wally the Walrus and let him rest

Seal Rescue Ireland have said that Wally the Walrus may have suffered injuries during his visit to West Cork in recent days

Thu, 19 Aug, 2021

'We were shaking, in awe': Father and son recount close encounter with humpback whales in Kerry

A father and son from Kerry made a splash in more ways than one when they posted video footage of their close encounter with a pod of humpback whales.

Wed, 17 Jul, 2019

Surfers battle to save stranded dolphin on Co Clare beach

A group of surfers repeatedly attempted to refloat a live stranded dolphin on Lahinch beach in Co Clare this morning however the mammal was later found dead in a nearby river.

Thu, 11 Jul, 2019

Humpback whales in Irish waters are born in Africa

Scientists have finally solved the mystery of the birthplace of humpback whales around Irish waters, after discovering they make a mammoth journey here from Africa of nearly 3,000 kilometres.

Tue, 04 Jun, 2019

Conservation group in Sligo examining whale washed up in Streedagh Strand

The adult female sperm whale was found dead on Streedagh Strand earlier this week.

Thu, 04 Apr, 2019

WATCH: Humpback whales feeding massive pods of dolphins off the coast of Cork

WOW, what a sight!

Sun, 20 May, 2018

Autopsies to be carried out on washed-up dolphins

Autopsies are being carried out on several dolphins that have washed up on beaches in the last month.

Mon, 19 Feb, 2018

Whales: Babies whisper to mums

The recent discovery that humpback whale mothers and their new-born babies whisper to each other raises intriguing questions. We usually divide vocal communications into songs and calls, writes Richard Collins.

Mon, 15 May, 2017

Helium balloons and Chinese lanterns could be a danger to Irish wildlife

Mass releases of either helium balloons or Chinese lanterns are becoming increasingly popular at celebrations, fundraisers and other such events, writes Dick Warner. 

Mon, 10 Oct, 2016

20 Irish headlands to host whale watchers

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) will host its annual All Island Whale Watch at 20 headlands around the Irish coast today.

Sat, 27 Aug, 2016

Rare sighting of killer whale off the Kerry coast

It’s been a bumper season for whale, dolphin and shark watching with the animals spotted up and down our coasts.

Wed, 29 Jun, 2016

New whale species visits Irish shores for first time

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has confirmed the first new species of whale in Irish waters in 25 years.

Wed, 01 Jun, 2016

Celtic Mist on whale of a voyage

Charlie Haughey’s renovated yacht will take to the seas next weekend in a two-month cruise around Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of Ireland’s waters being declared a whale and dolphin sanctuary.

Mon, 02 May, 2016

Pollution threat to Irish killer whales

A pod of killer whales which regularly swims in Irish waters is feared to be in danger of dying out due to pollution.

Tue, 05 May, 2015

Hopes fade for beached pod of pilot whales

Hopes were fading for the survival of any members of a pod of pilot whales beached off Co Donegal.

Tue, 08 Jul, 2014

Mass beaching of pilot whales on Donegal strand

Locals in Donegal launched a rescue operation this morning after a pod of 13 pilot whales was stranded on a beach in the north of the county.

Mon, 07 Jul, 2014

Huge pod of dolphins in West Cork give spectacular marine show

Forget Seaworld, if you want to see whales and dolphins you need to go no further than West Cork to catch a spectacular marine show.

Sat, 17 May, 2014

The 'Cathal Pendred saves a dolphin' story did not have a happy ending

Unfortunately, the little guy didn't make it, despite the best efforts of the Dublin-based MMA star.

Mon, 28 Apr, 2014

Head to the south coast if you’re looking for a whale of a time

If you want to see someof the largest whales onearth, the entire south coast of Ireland is now seen as one of the best places on the planet to whale watch.

Tue, 03 Dec, 2013

Whale sightings helping eco-tourism to make a splash

It never fails to command attention — the awesome sight of a giant whale sticking its fluke out of the water, swinging it around and slapping the waves before disappearing again.

Mon, 12 Aug, 2013

Happy ending to dolphin tale

A FEMALE bottle-nosed dolphin became stranded in Co Kerry last year and was returned to the sea.

Mon, 22 Jul, 2013

Our feast is the whale’s famine

IN their quest for food, humans do not recognise that all creatures are entitled to their share of Earth’s resources. Overfishing can deprive ocean predators, including whales and dolphins, of food.

Mon, 27 May, 2013

Fungi’s frolics still going strong as tourists flock to Dingle for festival

Internationally renowned dolphin Fungi, who has spawned a multi-million euro tourism industry in Kerry over the past 30 years, could be cavorting for decades to come.

Sat, 27 Apr, 2013

Washed-up dolphins ‘caught in nets’

Thirteen dolphins were killed after being caught in trawler nets off the west coast, autopsies have revealed.

Fri, 26 Apr, 2013

Dolphins died after getting caught in trawler nets

Thirteen dolphins were killed after being caught in trawler nets off the west coast, post-mortem examinations have revealed.

Thu, 25 Apr, 2013

Calls for dolphins in Clare river to be left alone to return to estuary

Calls have been made for three dolphins which have taken up residence in a Co Clare river to be left alone so they can return to the Shannon Estuary.

Thu, 04 Apr, 2013

Challenge of shooting whales to be considered

Shooting stranded whales is to be considered by scientists, the Defence Forces and state wildlife officers, it has been revealed.

Fri, 17 Aug, 2012

Shooting mooted for stranded whales

Shooting stranded whales is to be considered by scientists, the Defence Forces and state wildlife officers, it has been revealed.

Thu, 16 Aug, 2012