Big blue spotted in waters off Irish coast

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

The sighting of the elusive creature, which is so big its heart is the size of a small car and a child could swim in its arteries, is believed to have global significance for a species thought nearly extinct in the 1960s.

But amateur whale-watcher Ivan O’Kelly did not realise what he had snapped off the Co Kerry coast until he sent the pictures to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG).

“It was colossal, like an oil tanker beside you. It was intimidating,” said O’Kelly. “But we didn’t know at the time we were looking at a blue whale.”

The Dubliner had travelled with anglers looking to hook albacore tuna aboard the 12.5 metre MV Atlantic Explorer in the hope of catching a glimpse of fin whales.

Some 60 miles into Atlantic fishing waters, O’Kelly climbed on to the boat’s fly bridge to photograph what he believed was a particularly big fin whale.

“It was certainly one-and-a-half times the size of our boat,” he said. “It had a speckled back, and was very fast moving, fast swimming and very muscular.

“I never realised how impressive these creatures are. It was mind-blowing. It really was a very unique experience”

Padraig Whooley, IWDG sightings co-ordinator, said: “This sighting will have not just Irish or EU significance. It is of global importance. This is only the second validated sighting, that we can stand over, of a blue whale in Irish waters this century.

“It’s a really, really important sighting and hopefully, it will mean the beginning of a return to Irish waters of blue whales.”

Article courtesy of the Evening Echo newspaper.