Dolphins & Nature boat trip
The core trip heads out from the Castle Pier in search of the resident bottlenose dolphins, with live commentary from the skipper. Allow two hours or more; trips run April to October, with times set each day by the tides.
Dolphinwatch Carrigaholt
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About
A family-run boat trip from the Castle Pier at Carrigaholt, out into the Mouth of the Shannon to meet Europe's largest group of resident bottlenose dolphins.
Things to Do
Grey seals, seabirds and whales
The estuary is a Special Area of Conservation: grey seals haul out by the caves, guillemots, gannets and razorbills nest on the cliffs, and Minke and humpback whales pass by in late summer and autumn.
Cliffs, caves and castles
The cruise takes in spectacular coastal scenery and world-famous geology, passing Carrigaholt's 15th-century Tower House, a Napoleonic fort, a 9th-century church and a 14th-century peel tower.
Feral goats on Rehy Hill
A herd of wild goats lives on Rehy Hill, a favourite sight as the boat cruises past their cliff-side sunning spots, shared with choughs, ravens and birds of prey.
Your skipper and guide
Skipper Mary Kate Bolger is a marine biologist who has studied bottlenose dolphins in Spain and Australia and has been working these waters since 2016; she now knows many of the Shannon dolphins by name.
Dolphin watching from land
If you are not sailing, Carrigaholt and the surrounding townland have excellent vantage points to watch dolphins from shore and to read the sea conditions.
Plan Your Visit
- Hours: Trips run April through October. There are no fixed daily times: the schedule is built around the tides, sea conditions, weather and demand, and confirmed with you the day before. In peak season (July and August) there is usually more than one trip a day.
- Admission: Adults €50, children up to 14 years €35
- Parking: A large free car park sits just before the Castle Pier, with plenty of room for motorhomes. Wheelchair-accessible parking is available.
- Food: A small café on board serves hot drinks, organic and fair-trade snacks and tap water, and you are welcome to bring your own refreshments. There is no café or public restroom in Carrigaholt itself; the nearest facilities are in Kilkee.
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