Mystery of missing 15ft narwhal solved

Possibly the first-ever narwhal whale to be recorded in Ireland has ended up at a rendering plant in Derry, it has emerged.

Yesterday, Clare County Council resolved the mystery disappearance of the 15ft-long whale when it confirmed it removed “the badly decomposed whale” from a beach in Liscannor, Co Clare “due to serious public health concerns”.

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) had appealed for information relating to the removal of the suspected narwhal whale that usually remains in Arctic waters all year round.

The IWDG sent out the appeal after retired potter, Max Halliday said that he spotted the narwhal whale on the beach at Liscannor with its distinctive tusk “the length of a hurley” protruding from its head.

After being informed yesterday the narwhal is no more after its remains were rendered by a council contractor, the Shannon man admitted to being “really gutted” not to have taken a photo of the whale.

A council spokeswoman said the contractors did not see any tusk on the remains that were removed last week.

The IWDG and Mr Halliday are now pinning their hopes on genetic tests on tissue samples from the suspected narwhal coming back positive from Holland — and results could be released as early as next week.