Around 100 of the mammoth mammals sighted off Irish waters each year, but true number may be higher

The arrival of large numbers of minke whales along Irish inshore waters seems like a good omen for all-Island whale watch day tomorrow.

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.

COLIN BARNES, originally from Sussex, has been fishing in Irish waters for over 30 years.

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.

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.

Two leading wildlife specialists have joined forces to help people get close to the wild side of Ireland.

A coastal community’s bid to salvage a whale skeleton for use as a tourist attraction has ended in a watery grave.

A 50ft fin whale stranded at Baltimore pier was spared a planned euthanising by navy officials after it died naturally shortly after 11am yesterday.

The sick fin whale, stranded against a harbour wall in Baltimore in west Cork since Tuesday, has now died.

Euthanasia is "absolutely not an option" for the young fin whale which has become trapped at Baltimore harbour in Cork.

A fin whale trapped at the harbour in Baltimore, Cork will be left to die.

A local authority is facing “a logistical nightmare” in removing a dying whale which stranded itself at a harbour in West Cork.

The first successful refloating of a dolphin in this country has been confirmed in north Kerry.

IRELAND, especially the south and west coasts, is now regarded among the best places in the world for watching whales, dolphins, sharks and many other large sea creatures.

FIN whales are visiting the Celtic Sea between Wexford and Youghal.

A SPERM whale washed up on a Waterford beach would make an ideal tourist attraction in the neighbouring town of Youghal because of it’s association with the film Moby Dick, according to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWGD).

A male sperm whale, the world's largest predator, has beached itself on the Cunnigar Strand in Dungarvan.

Shoppers and lunch-goers in Cork city centre were treated to a rare sight today as a small pod of three dolphins made their way up the river Lee.

HOLIDAY-MAKERS got a remarkable opportunity to swim with wild dolphins yesterday when a large pod came within yards of a West Cork beach.

MYSTERY surrounds why a record number of common dolphins have washed up dead on the southern shores of the country.

THE sea around the Kinsale Gas field is producing spectacular sightings of more than 1,000 dolphins who are congregating to feed on migrating shoals of herring and sprats.

PADRAIG Whooley’s love of the sea is reflected in his voluntary role as sightings coordinator of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.

REMARKABLE footage of one of the world’s largest creatures in acrobatic display has been captured in Irish waters.

THE Irish Sea has some unusual visitors this summer.

A blue whale – the largest species in history – has been photographed for the first time in Irish waters.

THE first validated sightings of the world’s largest mammal have been made in Irish waters.

A DOLPHIN and her young calf were put down by lethal injection. Repeated attempts to refloat them failed after the pair became stranded at Cockle Beach in Crookhaven.

SEVERAL sightings of magnificent fin whales off west Cork, this month, offer further testimony that the area is becoming one of the top whale watching destinations in Europe.

A 1,200KM JOURNEY by a baby humpback whale through treacherous waters is at the centre of a discovery that has Irish and Dutch whale researchers leaping for joy.

TREES were toppled, garden furniture tossed into fields and debris — including corrugated iron and plastic sheeting — sucked 200m into the air as two tornadoes battered a rural community in West Cork yesterday.

A POD containing the second largest creatures on the planet is causing a real splash off the coast of Cork.

Most people nowadays have more material possessions than they need and it’s almost impossible to select suitable Christmas presents for them. One option is to give books, so here are a few suggestions.

WITH several reported sightings of whales, dolphins and sharks, now is an ideal time for spotting these magnificent creatures off our coasts.

SWIMMERS have been advised to keep clear of a dolphin showing increasing signs of aggressive behaviour.