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Mystery of enormous 60-foot whale washed up dead on Donegal island

The enormous baleen whale had been dead for about two weeks. How it died is a mystery however.

20171106_121514 Rachael Earley (pictured) gives some scale to the massive size of the dead whale Rachael Earley Rachael Earley

MYSTERY SURROUNDS THE circumstances which have seen a giant whale wash up dead on an island off the Donegal coast.

The enormous Baleen whale was first reported to be in the area of Arranmore Island last Friday afternoon, when Rachael Earley’s father, coxswain to the local lifeboat, was called out to investigate something floating in the water off the island coast.

w4 Facebook / Arranmore Blue Ferry Facebook / Arranmore Blue Ferry / Arranmore Blue Ferry

w3 Facebook / Arranmore Blue Ferry Facebook / Arranmore Blue Ferry / Arranmore Blue Ferry

w2 Facebook / Arranmore Blue Ferry Facebook / Arranmore Blue Ferry / Arranmore Blue Ferry

w1 Facebook / Arranmore Blue Ferry Facebook / Arranmore Blue Ferry / Arranmore Blue Ferry

“It was floating off the east of the island, and birds were picking at it,” Rachael, herself office manager with the Arranmore Island ferry, told TheJournal.ie. “That was Sunday evening.”

And then yesterday it was washed up on the shore.

Rachael estimates the whale to be about 20 metres (60 feet in length).

Donegal is relatively foreign territory for the baleen whale, which is normally to be found in the more southerly waters around Ireland.

“The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group say it’s been dead for about two weeks, though we’ve no clue how,” Earley said.

There are no marks on it. I thought there’d be a bad smell as well, but there was none.

Whether the mystery will be solved or not is another thing.

“I’m not sure if anyone will be investigating what happened,” says Rachael. “We may never know.”

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    Mute Brinster
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    Nov 7th 2017, 6:46 PM

    Why is it always a mystery when a whale washes up?

    They are mortal.

    They die.

    If it happen to be near a coastline, they may be washed ashore.

    Not exactly Agatha Christie is it?

    725
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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Nov 7th 2017, 7:07 PM

    @Brinster: Get Hercule Poirot onto the case pronto after he’s finished on the Orient Express….

    53
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    Mute Séamus Longshanks
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    Nov 7th 2017, 7:11 PM

    @Brinster: exactly, also, the whale should be left in place as a natural food supply for native wildlife.

    91
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    Mute Phil Swan
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    Nov 7th 2017, 10:30 PM

    @Séamus Longshanks: no need as they’re already packed up on white bread. Couldn’t eat another bite honestly.

    10
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    Mute James Ó Cianáin
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    Nov 7th 2017, 11:02 PM

    I wonder how much plastic is in its guts?

    22
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    Mute Padraig
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    Nov 7th 2017, 6:45 PM

    It appears he died from an overdose of Viagra.

    258
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    Mute keano
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    Nov 7th 2017, 7:49 PM

    @Padraig: looks to be a bit under-doses to me!

    20
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    Mute Joey Jr Shabadoo
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    Nov 7th 2017, 6:46 PM

    What an undignified end for him. Lying there. With his lad hanging out. RIP.

    255
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    Mute Joey Jr Shabadoo
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    Nov 7th 2017, 6:52 PM

    Could’ve censored it Journal. Me granny saw it and nearly had a heart attack.

    85
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    Mute Tweed Cap
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    Nov 7th 2017, 6:54 PM

    @Joey Jr Shabadoo:
    Looks to be about a 4ft dangler all the same. The rush of blood was probably too much for him.

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    Mute Joey Jr Shabadoo
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    Nov 7th 2017, 7:01 PM

    @Tweed Cap: Been there my friend. I wake up light headed every morning.

    38
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    Mute Noel Tate
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    Nov 7th 2017, 6:56 PM

    Free Willy…

    109
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    Mute Eric Gaffney
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    Nov 8th 2017, 9:03 AM

    @Noel Tate: Moby Dick

    7
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    Mute Guill Ire
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    Nov 7th 2017, 6:48 PM

    Shlong my friend

    153
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    Mute Declan Gibney
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    Nov 7th 2017, 6:48 PM

    Sperm whale?

    62
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    Mute James Darby
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    Nov 7th 2017, 6:59 PM

    He may be dead but that hasn’t stopped him growing. He was only 6 metres earlier on RTE. Now he’s 60 feet, over 3 times longer.

    42
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    Mute Mick Power
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    Nov 7th 2017, 7:02 PM

    Must of had an Indian takeaway.

    27
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    Mute Joe Conlon
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    Nov 7th 2017, 7:16 PM

    @Mick Power: Of you ever had an Indian takeaway? I’m of-ing a great time.

    21
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    Mute DaveSh
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    Nov 7th 2017, 7:31 PM

    @Mick Power: Have, not ‘of’

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    Mute Mick Power
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    Nov 7th 2017, 7:35 PM

    @DaveSh: great craic the two have ye.

    9
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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Nov 7th 2017, 7:07 PM

    Wonder did either of the storms cause his demise?

    12
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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    Nov 7th 2017, 9:11 PM

    @Honeybadger197: it’s been dead for weeks
    Decomposition advanced despite the cold water

    1
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    Mute Anthony Mahon
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    Nov 7th 2017, 9:13 PM

    Anyone thought of using a Geiger counter on the thing ? , after all about a third of the ocean’s are most likely highly radioactive since you know there is a large reactor in Japan that’s been spewing radiation for a few years now . PS … Eh how about news agency’s report on that whole situation since ya know its probably going to kill every living thing on the planet .

    13
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    Mute Joey Jr Shabadoo
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    Nov 7th 2017, 9:28 PM

    @Anthony Mahon: I wouldn’t worry too much. The more radioactive the material, the quicker it becomes safe. Google “half life” for more info. The kind of stuff that stays radioactive for thousands of years, would be putting out very low levels of radiation. A guy took a reading on the california coastline after fukashima, when currents had carried contaminated water there. The reading was lower than the reading taken at background levels on a commercial flight. It was mostly media hype to be honest.

    8
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    Mute Fay Moynihan
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    Nov 8th 2017, 7:24 AM

    Did you hear the one about the Kerryman who caught the whale?

    He threw it back because there were no spokes on it.

    12
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    Mute mitchellaneou5
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    Nov 7th 2017, 6:54 PM

    They just got the length of the whale, could they not specify if it’s a fin whale, humpback or other species? Surely the IWDG know

    7
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    Mute Noel Tate
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    Nov 7th 2017, 6:59 PM

    @mitchellaneou5: says in the article that it is a Baleen Whale. Not sure if that is what the IWDG said or not.

    19
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    Mute David Murphey
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    Nov 7th 2017, 7:00 PM

    @mitchellaneou5: read the article.

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    Mute John Murphy
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    Nov 7th 2017, 7:57 PM

    @mitchellaneou5: A baleen whale is the name of a group of whales. It’s likely a fin whale looking at its size.

    12
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    Mute mitchellaneou5
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    Nov 8th 2017, 7:10 AM

    @David Murphey: a Baleen whale is not a species of whale, it’s an order of whales containing all whales that use baleen teeth to sift and feed on krill and small copepods, read a book

    4
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    Mute mitchellaneou5
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    Nov 8th 2017, 7:13 AM

    @Noel Tate: they said baleen whale, yes. Which is like saying a shark washed up, there are 15 species and 65 sub species of baleen whales, they are a classification, not a species.

    5
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    Mute siobhan pat mulcahy
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    Nov 7th 2017, 6:50 PM

    Hes probabably full of plastic bags as well ss viagra, poor fella.

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    Mute Diana Walshe
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    Nov 7th 2017, 7:04 PM

    @siobhan pat mulcahy: sadly that’s probably true

    23
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    Mute dowthebow
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    Nov 7th 2017, 7:42 PM

    @siobhan pat mulcahy: the viagra definitely…

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    Mute DarkHorse
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    Nov 7th 2017, 7:45 PM

    @siobhan pat mulcahy:

    A bit like Elton John

    8
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    Mute Daithí Uí Ciarmhaic
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    Nov 7th 2017, 8:32 PM

    British submarines radar

    5
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    Mute Karen Arabella O'Hanlon Cohrt
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    Nov 7th 2017, 8:59 PM

    According to RTÉ news, the whale is over 6 meters long, that’s a long way off 60 feet! Which is it?!?

    5
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    Mute Gary Carroll
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    Nov 7th 2017, 8:54 PM

    Some very funny comments

    4
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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    Nov 7th 2017, 9:10 PM

    If they tow this chap out and sink it there will be nay a crab or lobster caught for months

    4
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    Mute ImaLadFromWestCork
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    Nov 7th 2017, 7:11 PM

    There must be a serious pong coming from that huge carcass.

    3
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    Mute Joey Jr Shabadoo
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    Nov 7th 2017, 7:26 PM

    @ImaLadFromWestCork: Nope, just a serious dong.

    51
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    Mute Brian O Reilly
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    Nov 7th 2017, 10:33 PM

    It’s no mystery,I drowned it .

    1
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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Nov 7th 2017, 10:40 PM

    @Brian O Reilly: UK subs in Irish waters with their sonar confusing whales again, many believe that is why they beach themselves?

    6
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    Mute Mark Hannan
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    Nov 7th 2017, 9:04 PM

    No, no, ‘e’s uh,…he’s resting

    Well, he’s…he’s, ah…probably pining for the fjords

    1
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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Nov 7th 2017, 10:39 PM

    Was that his fin or dick in that photo???

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    Mute Ronan
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    Nov 7th 2017, 11:42 PM

    Moby Dick.. ahem..

    2
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    Mute Brian O Reilly
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    Nov 8th 2017, 5:17 AM

    A Lois Irlmaier: Thank you you’ve got me off the hook

    1
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    Mute ThePencilStick
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    Nov 8th 2017, 11:18 AM

    Fukushima

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    Mute Dermot Collins
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    Nov 7th 2017, 8:40 PM

    on a scale of Rachel the Little mermaid

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    Mute Stephen Maher
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    Nov 8th 2017, 12:45 AM

    Thats mad, iv seen cod, Hake, and sea trout washed up on shore and the media never report it, conspiracy?

    1
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