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White-tailed Eagle chicks fledge in Killarney National Park
Two White-tailed Eagle Chicks have just fledged the nest on Lough Lein, Killarney National Park. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan/FREE PIC/NPWS Killarney National Park will always be a special place for the White-tailed Eagle, when the reintroduction programme began in the Park in 2007. The resident adult pair of White-tailed Eagles on Lough Lein, has successfully bred and fledged chicks for five consecutive years in a row! This week two juvenile chicks fledged the nest, and are finding their bearings along the shoreline, before embarking on their journey. A total of 245 chicks were reintroduced, between 2007and 2025, they have dispersed widely throughout Ireland with the first successful breeding occurring in 2012 on Lough Derg. It is estimated there are now approximately 150 individual eagles in the wild Ireland, enough to maintain and self-sustain the population. So far in 2026, the exact number of chicks born in the wild is unknown, but there are 17 known pairs in total. This is a tribute to the management and staff of NPWS lead by Eamonn Meskell and their colleagues in the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. Over 19 years work and collaboration has led to a growing white-tailed eagle population and also has seen habitat restoration and engagement with landowners and farmers to secure the eagles ongoing protection. NPWS and Killarney National Park are always grateful for the help and co-operation of the local Anglers, commercial Boatmen and tourist interests in the town for keeping an ‘eagle eye’ on the precious eagles.
White-tailed Eagle chicks fledge in Killarney National Park
Killarney National Park will always be a special place for the White-tailed Eagle, when the reintroduction programme began in the Park in 2007.
The resident adult pair of White-tailed Eagles on Lough Lein, has successfully bred and fledged chicks for five consecutive years in a row!
This week two juvenile chicks fledged the nest, and are finding their bearings along the shoreline, before embarking on their journey.
A total of 245 chicks were reintroduced, between 2007and 2025, they have dispersed widely throughout Ireland with the first successful breeding occurring in 2012 on Lough Derg.
It is estimated there are now approximately 150 individual eagles in the wild Ireland, enough to maintain and self-sustain the population.
So far in 2026, the exact number of chicks born in the wild is unknown, but there are 17 known pairs in total.
This is a tribute to the management and staff of NPWS lead by Eamonn Meskell and their colleagues in the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. Over 19 years work and collaboration has led to a growing white-tailed eagle population and also has seen habitat restoration and engagement with landowners and farmers to secure the eagles ongoing protection.
NPWS and Killarney National Park are always grateful for the help and co-operation of the local Anglers, commercial Boatmen and tourist interests in the town for keeping an ‘eagle eye’ on the precious eagles.
Words and photos by Valerie O'Sullivan
The resident pair of White-tailed Eagles on Lough Léin has successfully fledged two new chicks for the fifth year in a row.
Killarney National Park will always be a special place for the White-tailed Eagle, when the reintroduction programme began in the Park in 2007.
The resident adult pair of White-tailed Eagles on Lough Lein, has successfully bred and fledged chicks for five consecutive years in a row!
This week two juvenile chicks fledged the nest, and are finding their bearings along the shoreline, before embarking on their journey.
A total of 245 chicks were reintroduced, between 2007and 2025, they have dispersed widely throughout Ireland with the first successful breeding occurring in 2012 on Lough Derg.
It is estimated there are now approximately 150 individual eagles in the wild Ireland, enough to maintain and self-sustain the population.
So far in 2026, the exact number of chicks born in the wild is unknown, but there are 17 known pairs in total.
This is a tribute to the management and staff of NPWS lead by Eamonn Meskell and their colleagues in the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. Over 19 years work and collaboration has led to a growing white-tailed eagle population and also has seen habitat restoration and engagement with landowners and farmers to secure the eagles ongoing protection.
NPWS and Killarney National Park are always grateful for the help and co-operation of the local Anglers, commercial Boatmen and tourist interests in the town for keeping an ‘eagle eye’ on the precious eagles.
The two young eagles left the nest this week and are now along the shoreline as they prepare to take flight further afield.
The successful fledging marks 19 years of conservation work led by Eamonn Meskell and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), alongside the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. A total of 245 chicks were reintroduced to Ireland between 2007 and 2025.
There are now roughly 150 White-tailed Eagles in the wild across Ireland, creating a self-sustaining population. While the total number of wild births for 2026 is still being tracked, 17 breeding pairs have been recorded nationwide this year.
NPWS and Killarney National Park staff expressed their thanks to local anglers, boatmen, and tourism operators for keeping an "eagle eye" on the birds and supporting their ongoing protection.
Ireland’s first solar race car to be driven by local student
A team of Dublin City University (DCU) engineering and technology students has made Irish motorsport and clean-technology history by revealing Ireland’s first-ever solar-powered racing car.
Killarney man Rian Gill, holds the position of Team Principal and Lead Engineer at DCU Solar Racing and will take the wheel to drive the car during the international event.
Designed and hand-built over four years of intensive research, prototyping, and aerodynamic testing, the ultra-efficient single-seater vehicle represents a major milestone for Irish higher education and green innovation.
The team will officially unveil the car to the public on Wednesday next , September 9 at 6 pm at The Helix, DCU.
Following its launch, the student team will represent Ireland on the international stage at the iLumen European Solar Challenge (iESC) at Circuit Zolder in Belgium on September 19 to 20.
Competing against top international university engineering teams, the 24-hour endurance challenge tests vehicles on speed, energy management, and battery efficiency.
Over 40 multidisciplinary students spanning mechanical, electrical, software engineering, and business operations contributed to the project. Equipped with custom solar array architecture, lightweight composite materials, and bespoke telemetry systems, the vehicle relies entirely on solar energy and clean battery storage to run.
The custom-engineered vehiclea ,sleek, 6-meter “bullet” model designed for maximum power conversion and minimal drag, recently underwent track validation and high-speed testing at Mondello Park, Co. Kildare.
Speaking ahead of the launch Gill said:
“It’s been incredible to see the work done over the past four years and to see all the effort pay off. Timeless hourshave resulted in this pinnacle of Irish engineering, thanks to the support of our partners, university and the students behind the project.”
Jennifer Bruton, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computing added:
“This project showcases the practical, future-focused, boundary-pushing talent emerging from DCU. Beyond competing in international motorsport, these students are proving that sustainable transport solutions are achievable today through dedication, teamwork, multidisciplinary hands-on application, and vision.”
The DCU Solar Racing team test drove their car for the first time at Mondello Park earlier this week.
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