A pod of Blue whales was spotted off Co Cork last week - just the second time on record that they have been sighted in Irish waters.
The whales were seen by members of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, around 60 miles west of Dursey Island. The last time Blue whales were recorded in Irish waters was back in 2008.
According to a report in The Irish Times, two whales, estimated to be around 25m in length, surfaced within 200m of the yacht, but it's thought there may have been three whales in the pod as three "blows" of seawater were emitted in a short space of time.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group said the sightings are very significant, as there are estimated to be less than 4000 Blue whales in the entire northern hemisphere, their numbers reduced drastically by whaling over the past century.
Why not take out a subscription to Practical Fishkeeping magazine? See our latest subscription offer.