MV Shingle attracting marine life back to Killala Bay

UP to 100 dolphins arrived into Killala Bay to follow fish who had been attracted to the MV Shingle which was sunk recently to create Ireland's first artificial reef.

Huge praise was bestowed upon Crossmolina-based councillor Michael Loftus by his fellow councillors for his role in ensuring that the creation of the artificial reef was created in Killala Bay.

The ex-smuggling ship, which was seized by the Revenue Commissioners, was sunk last month after years of lobbying by local diving enthusiasts, including Cllr Loftus, to create an artificial reef for diving in the west of Ireland.

Speaking at yesterday's monthly meeting of Mayo County Council, Cllr Loftus thanked Mayo and Sligo County Councils for supporting the project and explained that already the ship is attracting wildlife including dolphins to the bay.

“Over the last few weeks we have been given photographs of the fish life coming onto the reef and last week we had over 100 dolphins swimming around Killala Bay feeding on the fish life which has come to the area because of the MV Shingle.

“We never had 100 dolphins ever coming into the bay ever before, which shows you the purpose of creating an artificial reef is now working,” he said.

Cllr Loftus first raised the idea of sinking a ship in Killala Bay at a SPC meeting in 2018 and he accepted that people thought he was daft to be even mentioning it. However he said that already thousands of people from all over the world have watched the sinking of the ship and believes it will attract many visitors to the county.

“At the end of the day it is all about our county and what way we can promote it. I was delighted to be part of a group who did what we said we would do and create Ireland's first artificial reef and now we hope that all the work that has been done will bring employment and income to our area. The whole purpose was to bring employment and bring as much as we could to our communities and that is the case,” he said.