Researchers have confirmed that a friendly dolphin that turned up off the coast of Kinsale in Cork is not Fungie.
Fungie has been missing from his home in Dingle since October with locals hoping that he had just gone for a little swim.
However, hope faded as the months went on with no sign of the little fella - until last weekend.
New footage had emerged of a bottlenose dolphin interacting with boats off the Old Head of Kinsale that gave people hope that the iconic dolphin had returned.
However, The Ocean Research and Conservation Association (OCRA) say they have analysed the markings on the dolphin using special imaging technology
And it's bad news - they have concluded that Fungie hasn’t relocated from Kerry to Cork in what would be a very controversial choice by the mammal.
Members of the public are able to capture footage and pictures and sent it to OCRA using the Observers app.
And it was these stills and clips that helped OCRA to show that the dolphin bears individual distinctive markings on its dorsal fin.
Fungie had no markings on his fin. Fungie also had dark grey colouring underneath his eye.
In comparison, the unnamed Kinsale dolphin has light, white colourings.
OCRA researchers are continuing to investigate what became of Fungie.
They are asking people to download their Observers app wherein videos and images of any dolphins sightings can be logged, catalogued and shared using the hashtag #FindFungie.
Until that moment though, we need a new name for the Kinsale dolphin.
Currently, it's a tie between Rebel and Finn, with votes being cast on the OCRA Twitter account.
Last year, plans for a remembrance ceremony for Fungie – the iconic bottlenose dolphin who vanished from Dingle Harbour in October – got underway, a local boatman confirmed to the Irish Mirror.
Kerry County Council has also called on the Government to offer supports for a "fitting legacy for Fungie in Dingle to ensure that his story continues."
Jimmy Flannery, the chairman of the Dingle Boatman's Association, said people in the community are "giving it time to sink in" before putting in place concrete plans for a memorial.
