The Environment

The area where these bottlenose dolphins live has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation. A bottleneck in the tidal flow creates sand banks in the estuary which draw in abundant shoals of oil-rich fish like mackerel, sprats, herrings and salmon which feed the dolphins, a variety of sea birds, seals and otters.

Dolphinwatch would like our passengers to be aware of the seriousness of Plastic Pollution. Plastics in our waters is responsible for the untold agonizing deaths of multitudes of seabirds, fish, turtles and dolphins.Here is what Greenpeace has to say on the subject.

Geology

The spectacular scenery at the Mouth of the Shannon ranges from pastoral slopes and sand dunes to very dramatic cliffs with exposed layers of sand & mud sedimentary rock dating back 350 million years.

These ledges create ideal nesting areas for thousands of sea birds every year, including guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars.

Cliffs, coastal caves, sea stacks, rock folds and historic maritime features all contribute to this wealth of natural beauty to be seen from the water.

History

The Mouth of the Shannon is the entrance to one of the longest rivers in Europe. The castle at Carrigaholt was a strategic stronghold over many centuries for controlling the trade that went in and out of the Shannon. Many bloody encounters were fought to hold onto this important economic and political bastion.

The castle was built in 1480 by the McMahon Family. At this time, it is possible to walk around the outside of this well-preserved tower house and get a feel for the brutal times gone by.

For further information about the geology, history and SAC designation of the Loop Head Peninsula, contact Geoff or Susanne Magee