End of an Era as ‘Celtic Mist’ Research Vessel Prepares for Final Surveys

A dedicated chapter in Ireland’s marine conservation story is drawing to a close, with 2026 confirmed as the final research season for Celtic Mist, the long-serving sailing vessel of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG).

The 17-metre yacht, donated to the organisation by the family of Charles Haughey in 2011, has spent more than a decade surveying Ireland’s inshore and offshore waters. Since 2012, Celtic Mist has logged over 100,000 kilometres at sea, providing vital long-term data on whales, dolphins, porpoises and wider marine wildlife.

Through systematic visual surveys conducted around the Irish coast, the vessel has played a key role in informing marine research, conservation efforts and national policy. Over the years, she has circumnavigated Ireland five times and undertaken international voyages to the Isle of Man, the Inner Hebrides and, in 2018, a seven-week expedition to Iceland. That journey saw Celtic Mist enter Arctic waters after rounding Hornstrandir, Iceland’s northernmost peninsula, in search of humpback whales.

More recently, the vessel supported surveys for Fair Seas, contributing to the campaign for Marine Protected Area legislation in Ireland. During an 11-week survey last year, volunteer crews recorded more than 2,000 individual animals across eight species of whales and dolphins along a 3,300-kilometre route.

Andrew Shine, IWDG Celtic Mist Officer:

“We’re sad to see the end of the Celtic Mist’s journey with the IWDG. Our members have had an incredible experience over the last 14 years living, sailing and surveying along Ireland’s stunning coastline. They have encountered some of the most spectacular marine wildlife in the northeast Atlantic and that would not have been possible without the Celtic Mist and the generosity of the Haughey family.”

He noted that the vessel, now 50 years old, faces increasing maintenance costs alongside growing challenges in securing experienced volunteer skippers and crew. While Celtic Mist spent more than a decade wintering in Dublin’s Grand Canal Basin, she is now based in Kilrush, County Clare, and will focus on surveys along the south and southwest coast during her final season.

Eva Lambert, IWDG Marine Advocacy and Policy Officer:

“Celtic Mist is about far more than numbers and maps. Year after year, volunteers give their time, energy and skills, often in challenging conditions. It’s about people working together at sea, learning from the wildlife around them, and turning those experiences into data that genuinely helps protect the places that matter most for whales and dolphins.”

Since 2023, Celtic Mist has completed 30 weeks of research surveys on behalf of Fair Seas. Campaign Coordinator Dr Dónal Griffin described the experience of life on board as uniquely rewarding, highlighting both the ecological value of the work and the commitment of the volunteers who have supported the vessel for decades.

The IWDG is marking the announcement with an event at Poolbeg Yacht Club in Dublin this evening, Friday 13 February, where the results of the 2025 survey season will be launched and Celtic Mist’s retirement formally announced. The gathering brings together skippers, volunteers, members and supporters to underline the importance of community-supported research in shaping Ireland’s marine conservation future.