On the western seaboard of Ireland there are places where the distinction between land and sea is blurred. The west Clare peninsula in County Clare, guarding the northern shore of the Shannon estuary is one such place. The Shannon estuary is home to Ireland’s only resident group of bottlenose dolphins. Over 100 dolphins have been identified using the estuary at different times; calves are born each year and are usually encountered in the groups we observe..

The Cruise

Your cruise will depart from the Kilrush marina on board our vessel “Dolphin Discovery”, sailing out through the lock gates, the only lock on the lower Shannon and onto the estuary to observe these exuberant creatures in their natural habitat. The trip takes about 2 hours, passing the islands of Hog and Scattery on our quest to locate the dolphins, which we do successfully on over 98% of our trips.

Where better to spend some time with these magnificent creatures than in the beautiful West of Ireland, so why not join us on board “Dolphin Discovery” for an unforgettable encounter with the Shannon Dolphins. See photo's taken on our cruise