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Tour

Bottlenose Dolphin Photography – Shannon Estuary (Kilrush)

Outside, 60 km from Killarney National Parkby Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation / Dolphinwatch Carrigaholt

The Shannon Estuary holds one of only four semi-resident populations of bottlenose dolphins in Europe (approximately 400 individuals). Dolphinwatch Carrigaholt runs small eco-friendly boat tours from Carrigaholt pier targeting resident dolphin groups that range widely through the estuary. Dolphins are genuinely wild and unbaited — all sightings are natural. Highly acrobatic Shannon dolphins known for spectacular breaching bowriding and socialising behaviour. Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation conducts long-term research from the same boats — photo-ID library of over 300 individual dolphins. Best: June–September when dolphins most active near surface in calmer estuary waters. Carrigaholt is 2h from Limerick. Also Kilrush-based tours. Often combined with nearby Loop Head Peninsula bird photography.

Species

Months

  1. January, closed
  2. February, closed
  3. March, closed
  4. April, open
  5. May, open
  6. June, open
  7. July, open
  8. August, open
  9. September, open
  10. October, open
  11. November, closed
  12. December, closed

Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct