Ireland may be small, but when it comes to wilderness, we’ve got it covered.
From misty mountaintops to barren boglands and sandy beaches, each habitat is home to unique wildlife, waiting to be explored.
If you’re into nature, forget the zoos, farms and demonstrations. Here are five beautiful wildlife encounters that are uniquely, unmistakably Irish.
5. Starling murmuration at Lough Ennell, Co. Westmeath – prepare to be mesmerised
You don’t have to be a birdwatcher to be blown away by the starlings in Westmeath. Every year, from October to March, a huge flock of up to 100,000 birds darkens the sky in a spectacular, swirling, aerial show over the lake, en route to roost in the nearby reeds.
Starlings ‘murmur’ for a few reasons, like warmth and safety, and this murmuration is considered one of the best in Europe. Just before sunset, the birds begin to gather, flying together in tight formation.
Dancing in one giant dense cloud that pulsates and folds into itself, they move together as one, often mimicking the shape of a giant bird in the sky.
The starling murmuration over Lough Ennell is a truly wild and beautiful encounter. It will take your breath away!
Address: Co. Westmeath, Ireland
4. Meet the resident dolphins at the Shannon Estuary, Co. Clare – year-round inhabitants
Most of Europe’s dolphins are transient, moving through the Atlantic in search of food and mates. However, in the town of Kilrush on the Shannon Estuary in County Clare, you’ll meet a pod of bottlenose dolphins that DON’T leave!
Over 140 dolphins live here year-round, feeding, breeding and raising their calves in the estuary. Take a boat tour to see them up close on the water or watch from the banks of the Shannon as these sleek, social mammals breach and play in Ireland’s longest river.
3. Experience nocturnal wildlife in the dark in Mayo’s Dark Sky Park, Co. Mayo – nature doesn’t stop at night
In Ireland, nature doesn’t stop at night. Quite the opposite in County Mayo’s Wild Nephin National Park, for if you visit after sunset you’ll find a plethora of nocturnal wildlife making use of the darkness.
Red deer, fox and hare are common sights in the west, but the park is also home to badgers, pine marten, and otter, alongside a variety of birds and insects.
Well-maintained trails, complete with weather shelters, and the lowest levels of light pollution in the country make the wildest parts of Ireland the best to explore.
If you’re looking for a truly unique wildlife encounter in Ireland, forgo the pub one evening and go wild instead. You might meet some woodland creatures that only come out at night. That’s Mayo Dark Skies Park’s motto – ‘Half the Park is After Dark’!
Address: Ballycroy, Co. Mayo, Ireland
2. Go puffin spotting on the Skelligs or Saltee Islands, Co. Kerry/Co. Wexford – an unforgettable experience
Meet the puffin: a muddled cross between a parrot and a penguin. At just 8 inches tall, these iconic birds attract millions of people to Ireland’s South and West coasts every year, to remote places like the Skellig and Saltee Islands.
Puffin spotting is a real sport. Bring binoculars and waterproofs and prepare to spend a few hours on a windy cliff.
Puffins are naturally curious birds, with little fear of humans. Their bright orange beaks are the easiest identifier, but be warned, these beaks are merely mating accessories, designed to shed shortly after they’ve hooked up.
Also worth noting – baby puffins are called ‘pufflings’. Now there’s something adorable for your bucket list!
1. See the wild fallow deer at dawn in the Phoenix Park, Co. Dublin – watch them freely roam
Picture this: Dublin’s Phoenix Park at dawn. Between 6 and 7 am, 600 wild fallow deer appear from the mist, grazing peacefully at the Papal Cross.
The sun climbs over the city, and the park is almost empty. Pick up a cup of coffee on the way, take a seat on a bench, and watch these wild animals graze—an extraordinary, unexpected, and memorable urban wildlife encounter.
Visit Killarney National Park, and you’ll likely catch a glimpse of Ireland’s native Red Deer herd. But if Kerry is not on your itinerary, the Phoenix Park provides another, more remarkable wildlife encounter you can try, right in the middle of Dublin City!
From a night hike in Mayo to a misty Phoenix Park, these fleeting wildlife encounters will stay with you long after you leave.
A reminder that although our cities are modern urban centres, in Ireland true wilderness isn’t too far away. Beautiful wildlife encounters are everywhere; in the bog, at the lake, and even in the dark!
Address: Dublin 8, Ireland
