21/10/2020
đ Di**le, County Kerry
An incredible story that hopefully has a few more chapters still to be written.
It's the easiest thing in the world to be cynical. In fact, given everything that 2020 has thrown our way, a healthy dose of cynicism is entirely necessary. However, sometimes it's best to just be able to appreciate something that is overwhelmingly positive and good in the world. Fungie, the famous dolphin of Di**le, is the perfect example of that.
In 1983, a wild dolphin arrived into Di**le Harbour and he's remained there ever since. For over 30 years, Fungie has been creating some of the most vivid memories for young and old. Children in the 90s who fell in love with Fungie have grown up, had a family of their own and brought their children to Di**le to visit Fungie and create new childhood memories that will last a lifetime.
As many of you will have heard, Fungie has been missing for the best part of a week now and locals are understandably fearing the worst given that he's never been gone this long before. Estimates put Fungie at around 45 years of age which is quite old for a wild, male dolphin. Having not been seen in so long, the obvious worry is that this incredible dolphin has passed away after a truly wonderful life which brought joy to so many people. Searches are continuing to be carried out and, so far, nothing has been found. That also brings up the more positive possibility that Fungie has decided to either (a) hide for a while given that there has been a lot more marine life spotted in the area in recent weeks or (b) he has decided to leave the harbour and join some friends further out in Di**le Bay or beyond. Until we're told otherwise, we're choosing to believe the latter theory. Hopefully we might be able to see Fungie in Di**le once again but, if not, he's done something incredible by managing to turn even the most cynical visitor into an entirely positive believer.