Page 59 - Guerin Media | Cork Airport Holiday & Destination Guide 2015
P. 59
COAST OF IRELAND BECOME A
ENTHUSIASTS?
...Nic Slocum investigates
Two Fin Whales - West Cork
Ireland as a whale and dolphin watching boat based whale and dolphin viewing opportunities
destination... Ireland first came to prominence as a from April to December. For the cetacean enthusiast or
whale and dolphin watching destination when a lone casual visitor, any prominent headland can provide an
male bottlenose dolphin arrived in the harbour of ideal vantage point for scanning our coastal seas for
Dingle, a small town on the Irish west coast. This signs of activity. Sturdy footwear, warm and
dolphin, later named Fungie, still resides within the waterproof clothing and a good pair of binoculars or
coastal waters off Dingle. The phenomenon of wild a telescope are essential to success. From Hook Head
bottlenose dolphins interacting with humans is well in East Cork to Loop Head in County Clare the rugged
documented and at nearly 30 years in Dingle, Fungie and remote headlands and promontaries of the south
is the longest surviving bottlenose dolphin known to and west of the country provide good opportunities for
actively associate freely with humans. In so doing he sighting a variety of species; including Minke Whales,
has contributed significantly to the coffers of local Short Beaked Common Dolphins, Harbour Porpoises
boat operators who take visitors out to commune with and sometimes in considerable numbers, the second
this remarkable 250lb animal as he interacts with largest fish in the world, the Basking Shark.
tour boats and swimmers. During the summer of 2014 Traditionally Common Dolphin sightings peaked inshore
another lone male wild bottlenose dolphin made the during the second half of the year but these past three
villages of Schull and Baltimore and the inlets of years have seen increased sightings during the early
Roaringwater Bay his home for around three months months of the season. Opinion is divided as to whether
before making a remarkable circumnavigation of this is a long term shift in behaviour or a more
Ireland arriving back in Falmouth on the south coast of transient anomaly.
England during February 2015. As the season progresses sightings of larger species are
made along the south coast with October,
Opportunities to see whales from both land and November and December offering the opportunity to
sea - With increased interest in Ireland’s whales and see the second largest animal on the planet, the
dolphins came reports of sightings and since the mid impressive fin whale or the smaller but equally
1980’s a number of coastal communities have charismatic humpback whale. Risso’s dolphins, long
recognised the value of whales and dolphins to the finned pilot whales and orca are rarer sightings and
local economy. They are now significant contributors reported infrequently but generate huge excitement
to regional tourism initiatives providing both land and when confirmed sightings are reported. Boat based
59
ENTHUSIASTS?
...Nic Slocum investigates
Two Fin Whales - West Cork
Ireland as a whale and dolphin watching boat based whale and dolphin viewing opportunities
destination... Ireland first came to prominence as a from April to December. For the cetacean enthusiast or
whale and dolphin watching destination when a lone casual visitor, any prominent headland can provide an
male bottlenose dolphin arrived in the harbour of ideal vantage point for scanning our coastal seas for
Dingle, a small town on the Irish west coast. This signs of activity. Sturdy footwear, warm and
dolphin, later named Fungie, still resides within the waterproof clothing and a good pair of binoculars or
coastal waters off Dingle. The phenomenon of wild a telescope are essential to success. From Hook Head
bottlenose dolphins interacting with humans is well in East Cork to Loop Head in County Clare the rugged
documented and at nearly 30 years in Dingle, Fungie and remote headlands and promontaries of the south
is the longest surviving bottlenose dolphin known to and west of the country provide good opportunities for
actively associate freely with humans. In so doing he sighting a variety of species; including Minke Whales,
has contributed significantly to the coffers of local Short Beaked Common Dolphins, Harbour Porpoises
boat operators who take visitors out to commune with and sometimes in considerable numbers, the second
this remarkable 250lb animal as he interacts with largest fish in the world, the Basking Shark.
tour boats and swimmers. During the summer of 2014 Traditionally Common Dolphin sightings peaked inshore
another lone male wild bottlenose dolphin made the during the second half of the year but these past three
villages of Schull and Baltimore and the inlets of years have seen increased sightings during the early
Roaringwater Bay his home for around three months months of the season. Opinion is divided as to whether
before making a remarkable circumnavigation of this is a long term shift in behaviour or a more
Ireland arriving back in Falmouth on the south coast of transient anomaly.
England during February 2015. As the season progresses sightings of larger species are
made along the south coast with October,
Opportunities to see whales from both land and November and December offering the opportunity to
sea - With increased interest in Ireland’s whales and see the second largest animal on the planet, the
dolphins came reports of sightings and since the mid impressive fin whale or the smaller but equally
1980’s a number of coastal communities have charismatic humpback whale. Risso’s dolphins, long
recognised the value of whales and dolphins to the finned pilot whales and orca are rarer sightings and
local economy. They are now significant contributors reported infrequently but generate huge excitement
to regional tourism initiatives providing both land and when confirmed sightings are reported. Boat based
59
