by Denis O'Regan
At 8:33am on Sunday morning 24 May 2026 I received an alert on the IWDG Cork Local Group Strandings WhatsApp Group
One of my many hats includes a responder for strandings of cetaceans between Kinsale and Mizen Head for the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG). The location was Garrylucas beach about 30 minutes drive from home. So I jumped out of bed (no time for breakfast) loaded my stranding kit in the car and headed for the beach.
It was a beautiful sunny day with blue skies and just a light breeze and by the time I arrived the beach at Garrylucas was already filling up with families enjoying the summer weather.
It wasn't difficult to find the animal as a group of curious onlookers had already gathered around the obviously dead body. So I set about recording the data. Curious children and people of all ages began asking me questions and I did my best to answer them as I worked...
Minke Whale
What is it?
It is a Minke Whale
Is it dead?
What do you think? Can you see it breathing or moving?
Minke Whale at Garrylucas Beach with some onlookers
Is it a baby whale?
No, it is a young adult Minke Whale 4.7 meters long and if it had lived might have reached 9 meters.
Why did it die?
We don't know yet, but it is very thin and underfed. This could mean it wasn't well with a disease or virus. Or it might have plastic stuck in the gullet. Or it just couldn't find any fish to eat. Or maybe a combination of these factors.
Is it native to the Irish Coast?
Yes. Minke whales are the most abundant ballen whale here most of the year.
Are you going to take it away?
What with? It won't fit in the car. Cork County Council have been informed by the Gardai yesterday evening but haven't arrived yet. (In fact the tide arrived sooner and took it out to sea again)
Can I touch it?
No. Not with bare hands anyway. It is a mammal and may have died from a disease or virus - and as we are mammals too - it could be transmissable. However, I did supply some silicon gloves to some very curious children and let them feel the smooth bouncy skin.
Is it safe to swim near it?
No. for the same reasons above. Keep well away when it is in the water.
What's that in it's mouth?
That is baleen (pronounced 'bail-een'). It is made from keratin (just like your hair and fingernails). When a Minke whale finds a shoal of sprat, sandeels or herring it opens it's mouth wide and scoops up as many as it can including the surrounding sea water. Then it uses it's very big toungue to squeeze out as much sea water as it can slightly opening the mouth so the water is forced out through the baleen plates. They act like a sieve and the trapped fish inside are then swallowed down.
The Minke Whale's baleen and big tongue
What does it drink?
Whales get all of their liquid from the fish they eat.
What are you taking from the whale?
I am using a scalpel to take a very thin layer of skin which is put is a tiny tube of ethanol and sent to the Natural History Museum. This is processed and put in the Irish Cetacean Gentic Tissue Bank for scientific research and study.
What are those things hanging from it's body?
Pennella balaenopterae (ectoparasitic copepods)These are ectoparasitic copepods called Pennella balaenopterae. It has a deep anchor into the skin and it's usual hosts are Sei Whales and Minke Whales. Apparently a large infestation of this parasite may be associated with a lower immune response and viral infections. (Another good reason not to touch the whale)
Where can I find out more about Whales and Dolphins?
Join the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.