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IF YOU’VE EVER fancied getting close to a whale – without the risk of being eaten for dinner – you might want to head to west Cork.
Situated in Village Park, just off Main Street, Kilbrittain, is the skeleton of a 65ft-long fin whale – but how did it end up there?
On 15 January 2009, the whale was found lying on a sandbank on the coast of the town of Burren. The fin whale, the second largest species on earth after the blue whale, was discovered by locals and a rescue operation was put in place, reads an Irish Times report from the time.
A lifeboat was used to drag the whale back into the water, according to Atlas Obscura, but the mammal went on to die on the shore. A specialist was flown in from America to examine the carcass and perform an autopsy, before locals were faced with the decision of what to do with the body.
A group of volunteers worked to remove the animal’s blubber while workers from a nearby meat factory provided tractors and lorries to aid the volunteers in removing the blubber.
This was no easy feat considering fin whales can weigh up to 70,500kg (70.5 tonnes), according to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. The major organs were removed for tests, while the flesh was sent for incineration, states a report by CorkCoast.com.
However, there was uncertainty between two villages as to who owned the carcass, according to an article published in the Irish Independent at the time. Kilbrittain locals stated that the whale died in their section of the harbour, while residents in Courtmacsherry, a village located just across the harbour, proposed displaying the jaw bones in their town hall.
Adding to the conflict, locals in Kilbrittain removed the jaw bones and kept them in a “secret location” before it was decided that the entire skeleton would go on display in the village.
More than 10 years later, the fin whale skeleton is displayed in Village Park with a playground and picnic area above it, allowing visitors to have a whale of a time whenever they stop by.
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No problem Eamon, sign up and we’ll sort all that out later
@Stephen Walsh: Will it just be himself signing up? Is he actually representing the Greens or his own ambition here? It’s difficult to know after reading this; irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/ryan-accused-by-party-members-of-leaking-to-press-to-get-his-way-994061.html
@Stephen Walsh: Says Mehole as he puts on his “I’m gonna be the next Taoiseach” hat
@Shakka1244:
” in August you’re down in west Cork.
You’re on a beach in Dunworly.
You’ve had a great swim.
You get up to Butlerstown.
There’s a beautiful pub in Butlerstown called Mary O’Neills.
It’s gorgeous.
Lovely field in front, crop growing, sunset blue sky.
You’re drinking a pint of Murphys.
That’s heaven “
The greatest recession since 1930 is about to start, and the G.P. want us to solve global warming for the planet. F.G plus F.F. please tell them to get lost as surely there are other sane politicians in the Dàil.
@John J. Smith: believe it or not, the climate does not care how the economy is doing.
@John J. Smith: The carbon crisis is more serious and urgent than the economy or even Coronavirus.
@Chris Crockford: and the economy doesn’t really care either.
@John J. Smith: oh so there’s always a more pressing need is there John? “Humans and the economy first” is what is destroying the environment in the first place.
Now that economic activity is shut down surely it’s a good time to look at ways to act in a sustainable manner BEFORE we revert to normal.
Just like the last crisis was a good time to introduce sweeping reforms that might have helped us now. We didn’t and here we are.
@John J. Smith: That’s the plan JJS
@El_Duderino: more urgent than the pandemic? Clown.
@JarryWasNotInTheRA: not more urgent. More important
@John J. Smith: what a dense comment
@El_Duderino: F#ck off, you idiot.
@Chris Crockford: world population is problem the green party are only moving the exhaust pipe to other countries
Brace for fuel price hike.
We have an economic crisis looming. FF FG please make sure that whatever agreement you reach DO NOT increase prices and taxes. The Greens policies include increased prices and they proved that in the past. They are also anti motorist
@Bob Tallent: tax rises are an inevitability. And being anti motorist is entirely sensible.
@Bob Tallent: that’s there MO… if they can’t ban it Tax it…
@Bob Tallent: They seem to want to be seen doing ‘something’ for the environment instead of actually doing something useful. Taxation for the sake of it is pointless, especially with the current economic climate. It won’t help the economy or the environment. Tax where the money will be used to reduce it remove the source of the tax would be dually beneficial. Tax carbon causing sources, use the money to generate carbon neutral or reducing sources that can in turn create jobs and help the environment. This is what they should be advocating, not holding the country to ransom for unachievable goals
@Bob Tallent: FF/FG almost exclusively committed to increasing rent and property prices (vast majority of people’s outlay). And they’re really good at it.
@James Murphy: paying carbon tax is a complete sham. Nobody should be paying it, period.
@Shazam37: Not sensible if they won’t provide public transport, is it? It may be a shock to you, but we all don’t work 9 to 5, mon to fri. I’ve had 1 job in over 30 years that public transport was available for, but I cycled to it instead.
@Trevor Donoghue: so we just do nothing until there’s perfect public transport? Then we’ll never do anything.
Pressure brings results. No pressure. No results.
Take away the ease of motoring and pressure builds to provide alternatives. Public transport results.
Leave things as they are and not only do we not fix the environmental problem but we never get decent public transport.
Your argument so the typical conservative – leave things as they are. Sure some magic alternative solution will appear
He’s really just a Fine Gaeler on a bike
@Brendan Moore: are those all FG policies?
@Brendan Moore:
Saoirse McHugh is really just a shinner in a homemade scarf
Have they learned nothing ?They got decimated last time out for taxing the bejaysus out of us.
Add that on top of a global recession and it’s not good news for us.
@blue exile: what are they supposed to learn? That their party and policies mean nothing and they should throw them in the bin.
It’s unbelievable how completely ignorant voters are. The party is supposed to openly declare its policies and views and STICK to them. The voters get to say yes or no at every election. That’s it. That’s whole game. It’s not complicated.
What YOURE suggesting is that parties change their policies whenever they prove unpopular. Which is what FFfG and Lab do. And look at the bloody mess of the place.
@Shazam37: Well said.
@Shazam37: True. Lets say agreement is reached and the government is formed. If down the line these demands are not being met, I wonder will the Greens be strong enough to step away?
@Logan Shepherd: fair question but they should be. It shouldn’t be an issue really – firm commitments made as part of government formation with how they’re going to go about it along with an actual step by step Plan within 60 days of government formed.
Accountability is the big problem – the government isn’t accountable to anyone.
@Shazam37: Accountability is such an issue here for whatever the reasons. Eamon will understand (after last time) what the implications of hanging on and hoping are, and if the demands are met and government formed, he should have strong lines drawn for his continued support.
@Shazam37: they dont have to bin their policies.
The electorate did that for them hence only 12 seats.
@Logan Shepherd: The idea of the 7% reduction of CO2 emissions a year gives the greens a timeframe of a year to test that FFFG are up to it. If not cut your losses and collapse the government. The standing up for principles will help the party. If the targets are met for year one the same principle should apply to every year of government. Don’t let FFFG get to comfortable or there will be no climate action taken.
@NotMyIreland: Agreed.
@blue exile: if they dont have to bin their policies why did you ask “have they learned nothing”??
What is it you suggest they “learn”? What is it you want them to do?
I’d also point out they’ve gone from 2 seats to 12. So that’s a stronger endorsement from the electorate. Not a weaker one.
@Logan Shepherd: the Irish People don’t want accountability. Getting one over on “the Man” is part of the culture. Cute hoorism
And so on. Only costing ourselves of course but that’s the way it is.
You can’t expect politicians to be better than the people they govern. That’s fairytale stuff – the handsome prince and the noble king and all that rot. Leaders are just like the rest of us.
If you drive a massive brand new gas guzzler how Can you elect the government to take environmentalism seriously
@NotMyIreland: Thats is a very unstable way to run a country. If we dont get what we want on one issue we are walking out. So 12 TDs run the government.
Very democratic.
@Shazam37: If it was so strong they would have won all the seats they were in.
@Gary Kearney: where did I mention “so strong”. I said stong-Er.
They have improved their position from last time. Unlike the others.
Yours is a juvenile point. “Oh they didn’t win EVERYTHING therefore they’re nothing”. Like saying a European cup winner Hasn’t improved because they didn’t win the World Cup too. Ridiculous.
I can answer those questions myself, and that would be 7 big No’s…
@James Hayes: And the other 10 questions?
@KilkennyProud: I yes small no’s?
@KilkennyProud: lol I left the 1 out by mistake, cant edit in this forum…thanks for pointing out though.
Will Michael Martin now become a part time, part time Taoiseacht. Remember the last time the Greens and F.F.were in government together… The economic crash that Martin conveniently forgets about. The grassroots membership of F.F. who will not get a vote will be over the moon with Martin. Wonder did Vareadkar inform Martin of a possible Three way Taoiseacht ringmasters for a three ring circus.
Sell your soul to the devil while your at it.
Eamon and Mehole played on the same side that destroyed a nation.
Absolute disaster to have em in again..
@Gary O CONNOR: yeah your right FF out!
It doesnt matter, they are going in. They will be the mudflap for FF and FG
@alphasully: Number 1 should have been, don’t throw us under the bus.
@alphasully: These are questions to be answered before talks even begin. Then AFter talks the grassroots will vote on an deal.
@Saigionsive: and after that they’ll go in and after that they will get the blame for everything that goes wrong
I don’t believe for one second that he is genuine about his wish to lower emissions…. the man drives one of the biggest nox producing vehicles out there!!
Blue shirts on bikes
I’d faster give a boiled egg a chance in government then this clown
@Aaron O’Leary: what does that even mean.
@Shazam37: It means that I would rather see a boiled egg in government than Eamonn, I thought that was obvious
@Aaron O’Leary: It means you should try another analogy, maybe a less stupid one.
@Saigionsive: It’s not an analogy, I didn’t compare. You should learn what an analogy is. It literally is me saying I would rather an egg, I am not comparing as there is no comparison to be made. Maybe you should try being less stupid.
@Saigionsive: Seems like a lot more people understand what I meant, you’re misunderstanding of english terms does not make that any different (:
@Saigionsive: If it was an analogy it go something like “eamonn ryan is the boiled egg equivalent of a politician” but that would be entirely unfair on the boiled egg population of this country
@Aaron O’Leary: I rather like boiled eggs..
@Luan Willis: I love boiled eggs
@Aaron O’Leary: it’s an idiotic statement,
@Shazam37: If you’re here to argue about a comment on the merits of a boiled egg being in government, then I would say you’re much more idiotic than this statement could ever be
@Aaron O’Leary: I’m here to see what people have to say about the greens policies and instead I see dim witted boobery about boiled eggs.
I saw an idiot say something idiotic so I told him he was an idiot.
@Shazam37: Think you’re on your own here, buddy. Thought the egg comment made perfect sense (and I agree with it).
@Shazam37: Think you’re on your own here, buddy. Thought it was mildly funny myself.
Should’ve made it 18, that being help on resurrecting the party again!
Eamonn Ryan is in his element!!
Those clowns just don’t learn . They will enter a government that will fail , will be blamed for everything that went wrong and then get wiped out again at the next election. Sounds like a plan.
@martin hayes: There is no chance of them even going into talks. There is no way FF/FG will answer these questions with any clarity.
@martin hayes:
Fg-ff NEED a third party JUST so they can blame the third party for any wrongdoing at the next Leaders Debate on rte.
They could’ve easily used the 19 independents, but they can’t blame them. They’d have to be actually held accountable for their actions.
@martin hayes: not sure what it is you’re suggesting they do.
Is it your opinion that they shouldn’t have green policies? What exactly is getting elected for if not to go into government?
It’s nuts. TDs are elected to get your policies enacted. Nothing else. The greens, Sinn Fein. FG LAb. Soc Dems. None of Them got votes to sit on their hands; they got votes to govern.
You said “those clowns don’t learn” – learn what? To stay OUT of government? The only point of being there is to govern.
@martin hayes: But then his big pension will click in and he wont give a f#ck
Eamonn the planet will get rid of us when it wants too don’t you worry about Tring to save us.
Here we go more taxes from the greens the enemy of rural dwellers.
That’s a no for the Greens so.
They are not who I voted for and never will again. They will screw us over with more taxes like they did the last time they were in goverment. They are already starting with their demands. NO TO THE GREENS!!!!
Making an offer you can refuse!
@Fionn Darland:
this is the business we’ve chosen
17 points of taxes
He forgot to ask for a unicorn!
18 Greta whatever her name is to be given a Seanad seat
Can see riots on the street with this lunacy , need a national government with the 3 largest parties sitting down and acting like adults for the common good , then next year go back to the people to make an informed decision
Why not just say they don’t want to go into power, ffs just call another election hopefully sf will win so they can show the rest how easy it is to give everyone everything in the middle of a recession
@Pat Joffre: Funny because that’s just what FFfG are promising – sweets for all and no taxes.
Wasn’t it the green party who wanted to decriminalise cannabis? How’s that gonna pan out now?
1 a commitment to end Direct Provision
2 the introduction of a universal basic income.
3 ending exploration licences for offshore gas exploration
4 cease the construction of LNG
5 a re-balancing of transport infrastructure spend,
6 increasing emissions targets,
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17 Higher emission reductions
time to get rid of your old vw caravelle eamonn seen lately coming out of gov buildings spewing black smoke like it was burning car tyres in an incinerator
20% of infrastructure spend on cycling and walking?? Next.
Social Dems, what have you got?
Are they still here ?
Sell your car and attach solar panel to your head. They want 20% of capital to be spent on cycling infrastructure
How did he survive selling out his party the last time?
Well I hope this does not mean persercuting us taxi drivers, on our knees as it is .
@David Lynch: It does but not completely you are a public transport provider. You may however have to trade in your car for a rickshaw or cargo bike
number 1 tax through to number 17 tax
Bye, bye Green Party if they join FFG
The Greens are a party of Government jobs for the boys. Everyone knew this but just would not give their transfer vote to a FF or FG candidate. All their new TDs were given a mighty shock when the transfers started coming their way from SF surplus. So this is really SF’s fault had they ran enough candidates there would not have been a 3 way tie.
Why don’t the Greens just try and change 1 thing in Government as opposed to a Santa type listing of unobtainable world changing child like wishes. Supertankers use a very dirty cheap version of diesel called “bunker fuel” with the record low prices of oil this is an ideal time to press for this fuel to be banned from Irish ports. The Tweedledums cant really oppose that.
@Kev O’Boyle: and if the rest of the world uses that fuel how do goods get to Ireland?
i’ll just dust down my horse and cart!
Salad guy is irrelevant after making his stupid statement with his fly down.
The greens have some good policies, their Vienna style housing policy is a winner. They have some good people too.
They lose people by constantly going to the same issues and not explaining the other issues they are fighting for.
Very hard to listen to a person driving a diesel van say its for the planet or the constant pictures with bikes.
have your say