-
2010
June
The organisation is originally established as Dingle Wildlife and Seal Sanctuary in Co Kerry, with a mission to rescue, rehabilitate and release sick, injured and orphaned seals in the South-West counties of Ireland. Founding members build the sanctuary with personal savings.
-
2011
January
The only other seal rehabilitation facility in Ireland shuts down, leaving DWSS to single handedly cover the whole Republic of Ireland coastline.
May
Rescue Volunteer Network is formed and volunteer training begins.
-
2012
December
DWSS nearly closes due to financial challenges, but soldiers on for the sake of the seals. The small team contributes personal savings to cover bills and fish costs.
-
2014
January
Storm Darwin destroys the facility in Dingle beyond repair with 30+ seals in care. DWSS volunteers are able to raise enough funds to relocate.
February
Seal Rescue Ireland is born at a new facility in Courtown, Co. Wexford, with a sharper focus on protecting, rescuing and rehabilitating seals.
May
The Seal Rescue Ireland internship program is launched to offer opportunities to people from
home and abroad to take part in extended
work experience. -
2015
December
Seal Rescue Ireland receives charity status
(CHY 21315) -
2016
January
The centre grows, with new programs such as guided tours of the facility, a growing gift shop, attendance at public events country wide, beach cleans, Kennel Sponsorships and Corporate Volunteering.
-
2017
October
Hurricane Ophelia devastates Ireland’s Grey Seal pupping season. Seal Rescue Ireland receives 300 rescue calls in under one week and reaches capacity for the first time, unable to accept any more seals.
-
2018
September
Seal Rescue Ireland brings the Ecobrick programme to Ireland in an effort to raise awareness against plastic pollution.
-
2019
January
Seal Rescue Ireland begins a Watershed Restoration project, planting native trees to help restore Ireland’s forests and rebuild crucial Riverbeds.
October
Seal Rescue Ireland works with Wicklow Co. Council to establish a protected seal haul-out site at Brides Head Beach along the Wicklow coastline
-
2020
January
Seal Rescue Ireland launches new website and new interactive membership platform.
March
Covid-19 forces Seal Rescue Ireland to close its Visitor Centre to the public and cancel all public events indefinitely. As essential work, seal rescue, rehab
and release continues behind closed doors.June
Seal Rescue Ireland reopens for private tours so supporters can meet the seals in a safe environment during Covid 19! The first Seal feed and Enrichment Experiences take place limited to six participants on one of four tours per day.
December
Seal Rescue Ireland launches Virtual Seal Rescue Network Training Courses over zoom so volunteers can join our rescue network without having to go to the visitor centre in person.
-
2021
March
Seal Rescue Ireland launches Virtual Seal Feed and Enrichment Experiences over Zoom. Supporters can now still meet the seal pups up close while our centre remains closed and get a behind-the-scenes live stream tour from the comfort of their own homes.
May
Seal Rescue Ireland launches a new integrated online booking system through a digital transformation grant with Failte Ireland and in-person Seal Feed and Enrichment Experiences recommence.
-
2022
June
Seal Rescue Ireland SRI wins the Green Award for Environmental Best Practice as well as Social Enterprise Outstanding Achievement in the County Wexford Chamber Business Awards.
-
2023
March
Seal Rescue Ireland’s Habitat Restoration Project comes to a close after three years with 33,700 trees planted and winning two Wexford County Council Environment Awards, a National Tidy Towns award and a Waters and Communities Award.
-
2024
March
Seal Rescue Ireland launches a new website through a Failte Ireland digital transformation grant.
But this is not enough.
Ireland’s seals are ambassadors for a sustainable and bright future for all of us sharing this planet together. Our vision is for a world where the seals dont need our help, with everyone looking out for the best interests of local wildlife and a flourishing environment. With a legacy gift in your Will, you can help make this dream a reality.
