By Denis O’Regan
Dolphin DNA from years ago!
Last week a research paper was published on 14 August 2026 which describes the findings regarding a genetic study of the three distinct groups of Bottlenose Dolphins around Ireland namely the Shannon Estuary, Coastal and Offshore populations.
This study included the known five solitary dolphins of which Fungie was probably the most well-known. DNA samples were collected from four of them but the research began just after Fungie was last seen in October 2020.
In July 2021 I happened to be aboard the Celtic Mist for a week surveying the genetically distinct Bottlenose Dolphins populating the Shannon Estuary and nearby locations.
Denis with Fungie in 1988
The crew included three enthusiastic marine biologists Mags Daly, Seán O’Calloghan and Bogna Griffin. There was a great buzz as they happened to be fellow students during their studies and this was their first survey together. You can read the story of that survey here
One of our aims was to gather DNA from the dolphins without touching them and in the evenings we shared stories - including my experiences in the 1980 and 90s swimming with Fungie the solitary dolphin that frequented Dingle Harbour.
It wasn’t long after that week that I was contacted by Bogna to explore the possibility of gathering Fungie’s DNA from my wetsuit. I still had the suit hanging up in the shed and Bogna sent me a DNA sampling kit. I duly swapped different areas of the suit and posted back the samples and heard nothing more.
That was until last week when the aforementioned research paper mentions me in the Acknowledgments as it turns out they successfully gathered the DNA of Fungie from my wetsuit. This turned out to be significant as the four other solitary dolphins’ DNA samples indicated they were from the Offshore population whereas Fungie was a mix of Shannon Estuary and Offshore populations.
See related articles here:
Fungie was a mix of Shannon Estuary and Offshore Bottlenose Dolphin (IWDG)
Fungie DNA reveals Ireland's best-known dolphin's mixed ancestry (RTE)
The wetsuit with Fungie's DNA