Hopes are high as sea eagles build nest

Hopes are rising that white-tailed sea eagles are about to produce chicks for the first time in Ireland in more than 100 years.

The Golden Eagle Trust has confirmed a pair is breeding near Mountshannon, Co Clare. Nest building began in recent weeks, with the birds spending much time in and around the nest site before laying at least one egg.

The pair, a four-year-old male and three-year-old female, settled in Lough Derg in early 2011 and were among 100 sea eagles released in Killarney National Park in a reintroduction project started in 2007.