Dolphinwatch Carrigaholt

Dolphinwatch Carrigaholt runs guided dolphin-watching boat trips from the fishing village of Carrigaholt on the Loop Head Peninsula in County Clare, on the southern edge of the Wild Atlantic Way. Trips set out from Castle Pier into the mouth of the River Shannon, where a resident population of bottlenose dolphins can be seen throughout the season.

The Shannon Estuary is a designated Special Area of Conservation and is home to one of Europe’s largest groups of resident bottlenose dolphins, which makes it one of the more reliable places in Ireland to encounter them in the wild. A family-run business with more than 25 years of experience on these waters, the operators follow a code of conduct for responsible wildlife watching and share background on the dolphins and the surrounding marine environment during each trip.

Alongside the dolphins, the estuary and nearby cliffs support a variety of other wildlife, including seabirds, grey seals and the occasional passing whale, set against the geology of the Loop Head coastline. Trips generally run through the warmer months, weather permitting. Check the operator’s website for current sailing times, seasonal dates and booking details before travelling.