Cheers and some tears as Sandy slides to safety

SANDY the seal sniffed the air excitedly but it was to take a bit longer than expected before she got her first taste of freedom because the tide was out.

Now weighing 50 kg Sandy is a far cry from the skinny starving little pup that was found on Sandymount beach four months ago.

Children, some of them a little sad to see Sandy go, from Scoile Mhuire in Sandymount, who named the seal, joined hundreds of people who came to watch volunteers from the Irish Seal Sanctuary release her back to the wild. And the taste of freedom, when it finally came, was sweeter still for the young grey seal. After dipping and diving among the waves Sandy was off exploring.