Four white-tailed sea eagles to be released in Killarney National Park in final year of programme

A total of 245 chicks have been re-introduced by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Norwegian partners since 2007

There is evidence now of white-tailed eagles breeding in counties from the south of the island in Cork right up to Donegal. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Almost 250 white-tailed sea eagles have taken to the skies over the country as the final year of a re-introduction programme - which began almost two decades ago - nears completion.

This year alone the re-introduction programme by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Norwegian partners will see 26 chicks released to the wild - with four of those chicks being released from Killarney National Park this weekend.