What a day! Today’s forecast of rainy showers most definitely didn’t come into fruition as we basked in the baking Irish sunshine all day. The day started with common dolphins and a beautiful sunrise as the ship approached the Skellig Islands on a flat, calm sea. Conditions allowed us to circumnavigate both Skellig Michael and Little Skellig and get great views of the old Christian monastery and the breeding bird colonies. As we made our way to sunny Dingle for the afternoon, we were accompanied by more birds and bow-riding dolphins.
5/8/2025
Read
National Geographic Explorer
The West Coast of Ireland
Today marked the day we entered Irish waters, and we were incredibly lucky to continue being graced with the most uncommon weather for the British and Irish Isles – calm seas and clear, sunny skies! These spectacular conditions made for a wonderful morning spent watching dolphins ride the bow of National Geographic Explorer. We enjoyed smooth sailing for our presentations, including a fantastic talk about Climate Justice and the Climate and Nature Crisis by the amazing Mary Robinson, the first female President of Ireland. After lunch, we visited the Aran Island of Inishmore where we enjoyed wonderful hospitality on the small island of less than 800 people. We admired the spectacular views from the steep sea cliffs near Dun Aengus. To round out a delightful first day exploring the coast of Ireland, we carried on cruising with calm sea conditions, the stunning cliffs of Moher on our port side, and a glowing sunset on our starboard side.