Here is the amazing moment a fisherman in Cork hand-feeds a dolphin from his boat.
There have been numerous sightings of whales and dolphins off the southern coast following the recent good weather and the huge fall in commercial shipping and pleasure boating activity.
And the crew of one lucky fishing boat out of Ballycotton, the Emma Lou, were followed by a dolphin for three days, Cork Beo reports.
The dolphin became so friendly, skipper Antoin Walsh was able to film one of the crew feeding it fish by hand.
The video, shared by Antoin's friends at Ballycotton Sea Adventures (who run very popular ferry trips from the little harbour village to its famous island lighthouse), shows the dolphin taking a break from bow-riding with the Emma Lou to grab a snack.
Another skipper, Dave Edwards of West Cork Charters sea angling specialists, was out from Clonakilty on Tuesday and captured photos of dolphins and whales off the west Cork coast.
"The sea was alive with wildlife and we saw three different species of whales and three species of dolphins, including the unusual Risso's dolphin," Dave told Cork Beo.
"There were Fin Whales, Humpbacks and Minke whales out there. Seeing so many Risso's Dolphins was the most incredible sight."
