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History of Strandings
HISTORY OF STRANDINGS IN IRELAND
- Stranded whales of great importance in Medieval times. - Ireland and the U.K. hold one of the longest long-term time series of stranding records. - Published stranding records of cetaceans in Ireland date back to the
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1800s.
- Increase in reports from 1990 to 2014. Likely an increase in citizen science, public awareness, extreme weather events and human impacts.
- The first record of a stranded whale in Ireland dates back to July 1295, which led to the pleadings of a case in Co. Kerry of Robert de
Clohulle who was charged with having appropriated a whale to his own use "in prejudice of the Crown" (Cal. Just. Rolls Ire.., 1295 - 1303, pages 29, 54-5). Robert refuted the charge, stating that by Irish ancient custom in Ireland "such great whales are reported wreck of the sea", a right which his father had before him. In September of 1295, William Macronan is reported to have made a fine for "a certain great whale" of two cows and 10 shillings, highlighting the value of a stranded whale.
