Talk Description:

Talk Description: The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, (IWDG), was formed in December 1990. Success quickly followed, when six months later, on the 7th of June 1991, the Irish Government declared Ireland an Irish Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary. This was a remarkable first achievement of the newly formed group. Throughout the intervening thirty plus years; the IWDG strived to make Ireland an “Effective Sanctuary”. This Talk will bring you on an exciting “virtual” sea voyage, when you will hear about the unique population of Dolphins in the Shannon Estuary, the amazing Humpback Whales, Basking Sharks and Porpoises, and much more, all only a short distance from our Western Shore at Kilkee on the Loop Head Peninsula. The IWDG speakers are passionate about their work. This Talk will be enhanced with many marvellous photographs, unique video footage and the sound of Whales singing! The core work of the IWDG involves Scientific Research, Marine Conservation Zones and, sadly, assisting with managing animal welfare when live strandings occur. President Michael D. Higgins became the IWDG sole Patron in 2012. IWDG undertook an Ireland to Iceland – Humpback Whale Expedition in 2018 – sailing aboard Celtic Mist. Humpback Whale Fluke ~ Just off Loop Head Humpback Whale Fluke Waters around Loop Head.

About the Three Speakers: Dr Simon Berrow is Chief Executive Officer of the IWDG and lecturer at the Atlantic Technological University in Galway. He founded the IWDG in December 1990 and started the Shannon Dolphin Project in 1993. Simon has also worked on whales in the Antarctic and off west Africa and caught Shark Fever (basking sharks) at an early age, which is incurable. He has published widely on marine mammals, seabirds and basking sharks. Mags Daly is the IWDG Shannon Dolphin Project Officer responsible for managing the long-term Shannon Dolphin Photo-ID Catalogue. The catalogue contains over 80,000 images of bottlenose dolphins collected in the Shannon and adjacent waters of Brandon and Tralee Bays and off Loop Head. In her role of as the IWDG SDP Officer she has been expanded the monitoring to include Loop Head and Brandon Bay, as the Shannon dolphin range increasingly includes these important areas. Richard Collins has a great interest in wildlife in west Clare. Having fished and sailed the waters around Loop Head for years, spent hours watching from headlands and contributing extensively to the work of the IWDG and the Irish Basking Shark Project. He is founder member of the West Clare Wildlife Club which is very active in the area.

Talk Description:
This is the story of the County Clare Nursery, a Mother and Baby Home, that was housed in Kilrush Workhouse from 1922 – 1932. 

This Institution was set up as part of the County Clare Amalgamation to replace the Poor Law in the County.  It also became the facility for unmarried pregnant women and their children as well as acting as an Orphanage.
Upwards of 400 children were born there – but the poor condition of the building – and the lack of adequate provisions for the women and children – meant a horrendously high death rate.

County Clare Nursery (Mother & Baby Home) Memorial ~ Kilrush
This talk will explore the reasons why a “high death rate” was the case – and why little or no provision was made to improve the lives of the women and children.
About the Speaker:
Rita McCarthy is a Social Historian whose area of interest includes Ireland in the post 1922 period; particularly the lives of women and children in the Free State. She works in Adult Education where she teaches Irish History and Heritage Studies.

Rita McCarthy is also an Independent Researcher and has produced and presented Radio Documentaries and Podcasts.  Whilst researching her MA she uncovered the existence of the County Clare Mother and Baby home (1922 – 1932) and she has written and presented an Exhibition on the topic. Rita is currently writing a book on the County Clare institution.