Dingle’s lesbian penguins Missy and Penelope say ‘yes’ to love nest

Missy and Penelope, Ireland’s only lesbian penguins, have begun building a nest together again this year and are sitting on eggs that probably won’t hatch.

Sat, 30 May, 2015 - 01:00

Anne Lucey

However, they already have something to celebrate, as a cake was brought in yesterday with a big ‘yes’ for the pair who have built a rock nest and laid eggs in Dingle Oceanworld for the second year in a row.

The gentoo penguins, Penelope aged 7 and Missy aged 5, began their romance a year ago. While gay male penguins in captivity are not unusual, gay female penguins are.

“We were so chuffed to see them do their mating rituals and the news spread even to Australia,” Dingle Oceanworld manager Máire O’Shea said.

The pair have laid five eggs but none have hatched.

Last autumn, feeling the males were underperforming, and in an effort to get Missy’s and Penelope’s eggs to hatch, two new males — this time with Viking blood — were introduced. But alas so far neither lady has shown any interest in the Denmark males.

“We’ve been watching. But so far, they have eyes only for each other,” the manager said.

The penguins are among the biggest attractions at the Dingle aquarium.