Shannon Dolphin Project

Shannon Dolphin Project Learn about the bottlenose dolphins in the Shannon Estuary, their conservation, and current research.

Take part in monitoring the dolphins by submitting your pictures and videos.

20/08/2026

An incredible dolphin encounter in the Shannon Estuary!

While out on survey in the inner Shannon Estuary, near the Killimer Ferry crossing, the Shannon Dolphin Project research crew came across a large group of bottlenose dolphins.

At first, we thought the dolphins were busy foraging, but it soon became clear that something else was happening. As we watched, we realised we were witnessing a amazing display of social behaviour. At times, it looked as though the water was boiling with dolphins!

Encounters like this give us a valuable insight into the lives of the Shannon dolphins, helping us understand how they behave, how they interact with one another, and when and where these behaviours occur.

event: This weekend, Estuary Watch 2026 is taking place at watchpoints across the Shannon Estuary. Come along, join us on Saturday 22 August from 1–3pm, and see if you can spot some of these amazing bottlenose dolphins. Find your nearest watchpoint here: https://iwdg.ie/estuary-watch-2026/

🎥 Please note: The footage has been edited and zoomed in for viewing. During the encounter, our research crew adhered to the IWDG Code of Conduct, maintaining a respectful distance.

Video credit Csilla Trungel/IWDG

As we continue the field season into July the dolphins have been loving the warmer weather just as much as we have! Disc...
05/07/2026

As we continue the field season into July the dolphins have been loving the warmer weather just as much as we have!

Discover Dolphins in Kilrush Marina has given us the amazing opportunity to photograph and track the estuary “Innies” who like to hang out further up the estuary around Kilrush, Money Point and Tarbert and boy do they like to put on a show!

Thank’s to Discover Dolphins for having us on board and sharing these special moments with us!

📸 Julia Zheludik / IWDG

26/06/2026

We’re well into the 2026 feild season here with the Shannon Dolphin Project!

Huge thank you to Mary-Kate and her crew with Carrigaholt Dolphin Watch. We have had many incredible opportunities to join her on her wonderful boat Murúch and photograph the Shannon dolphins in the past two months.

Our interns are hard at work!

📸 Ana Sanz, Julia Zheludik, Stephanie Ryan / IWDG”

IWDG Sanctuary Day | 7 JUNETomorrow we celebrate 35 years of Ireland as Europe’s first Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary and t...
06/06/2026

IWDG Sanctuary Day | 7 JUNE

Tomorrow we celebrate 35 years of Ireland as Europe’s first Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary and the work being done to better understand and protect whales and dolphins in Irish waters.

For over three decades, IWDG has supported the research and monitoring of whales and dolphins in Irish waters through dedicated research programmes, long-term monitoring, public sightings schemes, and citizen science initiatives that help build knowledge of the incredible cetaceans around our coasts.

In The First Twenty-One Years (1990–2011), published to mark 21 years of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary, marine conservationist and author Erich Hoyt reflected on the passion and community behind IWDG:
“The talking drums of Ireland beat fast and hard with whale news, instantly permeating the entire country.”

It’s this shared enthusiasm - from sightings and strandings to conservation and research - that continues to make Ireland’s whale and dolphin community so special today.

You can support Sanctuary Day by:
🔹 Wearing blue and sharing your photos with us
🔹 Tagging and sharing this post
🔹 Reporting your sightings via the IWDG Reporting App at report.iwdg.ie
🔹 Supporting the work of IWDG

Every sighting and every show of support helps raise awareness for marine conservation and citizen science in Ireland.

Learn more:
https://iwdg.ie/iwdg-sanctuary-day/

🙏 Support the campaign:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/iwdg-whale-and-dolphin-sanctuary-day

The dolphin stranded near Killimer has been examined by the IWDG. It is a bottlenose dolphin. Bottlenose dolphins rately...
30/05/2026

The dolphin stranded near Killimer has been examined by the IWDG. It is a bottlenose dolphin.

Bottlenose dolphins rately strand in Ireland. There have only been 6 in the Shannon Estuary over the last 30 years. There isca second bottlenose dolphin stranded near Knock. There are three genetically discrete populations of bottlenose in Ireland.

We think this is from the offshore population not the Shannon. We have taken skin samples to determine. We would like to preserve the skull and to that aim this dolphin has been secured where it stranded.

Any issues contact [email protected]

18/05/2026

Slow-mo dolphins and classical music, can you get more epic?

Some classic footage caught while on our first Celtic Mist survey of the year ⛵️



📹: Julia Zheludyk / IWDG

18/05/2026

WhaleWatch Ireland in Co Clare this Saturday

On Saturday 23 May the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group (IWDG) in association with Inis, invites you to join us at a local headland for Whale Watch Ireland 2026, between 5:00-7:00 PM. This annual event, now in its 24th year, comprises free and guided watches at local headlands and vantage points, as part of All-Ireland whale watch day.

Of the 19 sites around the island of Ireland, two are in Co Clare: Loop Head in the southwest and Black Head in the north.

This year’s event is once again being held to coincide with National Biodiversity Week Ireland which runs between May 15th-24th. It is also hoped that moving it from late summer, will improve our odds of hosting this outdoor event in better weather conditions, as in recent years late August has simply become too unreliable with strong winds and rain. These simultaneous land-based watches at the 18 sites listed below from 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.

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 in doubt, please check in with them using the contact details below or on www.iwdg.ie/events. But don’t hesitate to contact them, or the event’s organiser, if you’ve any further questions in the lead up to your event.

Address

Merchants Quay
Kilrush
CO.CLARE

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