The Gweedore Whale
``Sightseers flock to the sandy grave of 40-ton beached whale
SIGHTSEERS yesterday flocked to a remote Co Donegal beach to see the resting place of one of the largest whales ever seen in Ireland.
The 40-ton beached whale died on Saturday morning, and was buried in a 20-foot sandy grave. Although the grave wasn't marked, that didn't stop dozens of people gawping at what they believed to be the burial spot.
A JCB and two diggers were called up to move the 45ft mammal across Magheraroarty Beach in Gweedore.
As the JCB pushed at the nose, the diggers attempted to pull with chains attached to the tail-fin.
There was such a struggle to move the whale that eventually a third digger had to be called in to drag the whale more than 150 yards to its grave.
Donegal County Council vet Frank McRory who is trained in treating beached whales and dolphins and who supervised the operation had attempted unsuccessfully on Friday evening to put the 45-foot whale down by humane injection.
"There were a number of problems," said McRory, "I'd have needed a six-inch needle but I only had a two-and-a-half-inch one.
"And I couldn't find anywhere to inject. I was looking for a vein in the tail-fin, I was limited in what I could do.
"There is no doubt, once we saw it clear of the water, that it was considerably bigger than was originally estimated."
Marine experts said the whale, which was probably male and almost certainly quite old, was too large to be rescued while still alive.
Meanwhile, beaches around the country are likely to be inundated with sun-worshippers after Met Eireann forecast sunshine and temperatures in the mid-to-high teens this week.
Paddy Clancy''
Irish independent
My father alerted me to this story. He actually brought me a photocopy of the story The print version, has pictures of the unfortunate Whale.
For centuries whales have washed up upon Irish shores, and there Teeth were highly prized. They were sometimes exchanged for Gold.
I have since added a picture of the Whale, a crude scan, of a photocopy. I hope it gives some idea of the size
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