There are several species of Dolphins living in Irish waters, such as the Bottlenose Dolphin, Harbour Porpoises, Risso’s Dolphins, and Common Dolphins.

Dolphins are naturally curious, often more intrigued than scared of humans and are known to venture close to boats and the shore. They can live up to 30 years, sometimes longer, and live in pods up to 15.

Until recently, Ireland’s most famous dolphin, Fungi, lived in Dingle Bay and came in close contact with humans and boats whenever he saw them. Sadly, Fungi went missing in October of 2020 after being first sighted there in 1983.

Learn more about whale and dolphin watching here.

Ireland is a pretty good place to spot whales – one of the best places in Europe, actually. In 1991, Irish waters were designated Europe’s first whale and dolphin sanctuary to protect the many species in waters around the island.

Species of whale found here include Minkes, Fin Whales, Humpbacks, and even Killer Whales. As well as these, Blue Whales (the world’s largest mammal), Sperm Whales, Pilot Whales, and have also been sighted here. In fact, up to 25 species of cetacean have been recorded on Irish shores.

If you’re looking for a show, Fin Whales make the biggest “blow”, expelling water from their blowholes. While Humpbacks also “blow”, they are most likely to be seen lifting its tail-fluke out of the water compared to other species. Humpbacks and Minkes are the only species here that breach, which is an amazing sight to behold.

Learn more about whale and dolphin watching here. Compare sizes on this chart.

Basking Sharks are the largest of the Atlantic Shark family and second largest in the world (after the Whale Shark). Don’t be fooled by the their size, as Basking Sarks are gentle giants. They spend their days floating around drinking in seawater to filter out the tiny plankton.

In fact, they are so docile that diving with Basking Sharks is a popular activity the world over. If you don’t fancy diving into the cold Atlantic water, these splendid giants can be sighted from the shores.

The largest basking shark ever recorded was 12 meters or 39.5 feet, though on average, a basking shark measures between 6-9 meters (19-26 feet) long, and weighs up to 7 tons!

Want to learn more? You can report sightings (or strandings), check recent sightings by others or learn where this year’s hotspots are on the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group’s page.

There are two species of seal in Ireland, Grey Seals and Common Seals. Though protected, they are not endangered as they sea and waterways here are abundant with seals.

Both are “true seals” instead of being “eared seals”. Unlike eared seals, true seals are much more awkward on land, using their bellies to bump and bounce along the ground.

Common Seals are smaller, and they pup earlier in the season, usually from May to August. Grey Seals are larger, and they pup later, usually over autumn and early winter months. Grey Seal babies are born with the adorable white fluffy coats designed to keep them warm until they need to lose it in order to swim properly.

Both species have similar life spans, from 25-35 years. Grey seals almost went extinct in Ireland in the 1900s, but have bounced back due to better protection.

Learn more about seals at Seal Rescue Ireland.

Puffins are just one of many marine birds that inhabit the coasts of Ireland. But they are certainly the most famous, and probably the best-loved.

The adorable little black and white birds congregate on Ireland’s shores in spring and early summer to find mates. They are incredibly adept at swimming and diving, spending the rest of the year far at sea.

During the winter months they shed the beautiful colours of their iconic beaks, making it easier to spot them in summer when their colours are showing.

Read More About Puffins

Puffins are the most famous seabirds that we have along Ireland’s coasts. But they are far from the only ones!

Bird watchers should note there are many other interesting seabirds in Ireland, like Gannets, Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Manx Shearwaters, Fulmars, Guillemots and Gulls. These birds all rely on the Irish coasts, cliffs, islands and waters for food, protection and breeding grounds. Ireland is a great place for keen ornithologists.

Though not coastal dwellers, you’ll see a lot of inland water birds too. The most famous are probably the swans – helped along by the appearance of swans in Irish Mythology, like the story of the doomed Children of Lir), ducks, and geese.

Read more about birds of Ireland’s south coast here. Or learn more about the bird sanctuary on Rathlin Island in the north. 

Unlike in other parts of the world, Ireland has just one species of otter which occupies a range of habitats: from lakes to rivers, streams and even the coast. These happy little creatures live off of various kinds of fish, though salmon and trout are their main food source – occasionally crayfish, frogs and eel too.

Otters are the only amphibious members of the weasel family, and they are well adapted to living in aquatic environments. They are elusive and not generally easy to spot, despite being widespread.

While otter populations across Europe have declined in the past century, the Irish population has remained stable. They are mostly nocturnal, particularly active at dawn and dusk, though coastal otters forage based on tides rather than daylight.

An otter might control several kilometres of territory – usually smaller swathes of just two or three kilometres for otters living on the coast. While otters living along a stream might need upwards of 20km of territory.

You can learn more about otters here or at Ireland’s Wildlife website.

Hiking & Island Hopping – Cork & Kerry

From the wild rocky Skelligs far at sea to the remote islands off southwest Cork, this trip offers plenty of time in and around the sea. The Skellig islands are one of the single best places to spot seabirds, especially puffins, who inhabit the islands. The longer boat ride out to the islands offer chances to spot whales and dolphins. On the gentler beaches of some of the islands closer to the the mainland, such as around the Dingle Peninsula, keep your eyes out for seal basking along the beaches or swimming in the waves.

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Hiking & Island Hopping – West Coast

Plenty of seabirds live on Ireland’s west coasts. Many of the islands visited on this trip like Inisbofin and Clare Island are small and less-travelled, making them ideal for spotting wildlife. Clare Island, as well as the Cliffs of Moher, have been known to host puffins. The cliffs also offer a vantage point out to the sea. In Killary Fjord, learn more about the region’s aquaculture, or oyster farming. While not exactly akin to spotting humpback tails, shellfish have been an incredibly important part of the west coast for millennia.

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