The white-tailed eagle has landed — but will it thrive in Kerry?

IF GOLDEN eagles can be successfully re-established in Donegal, why can’t white-tailed sea eagles grace the coasts of Kerry and west Cork?

That question is about half-answered at present, as plans to release white-tailed eagles in Killarney National Park next summer are proceeding — though not with unanimous agreement, it has to be said.

Two hundred years ago, eagles would have been a relatively common sight in Irish skies, especially in areas such as Donegal, Galway, Kerry and other parts of the west coast, as we know from the large number of placenames clearly linked to eagles.