Fast Facts for Volunteers
| Seal Rescue Ireland |
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| Location: Courtown, Republic of Ireland. Languages Spoken: English Species on-site: Between five to 50 common and grey seal pups (dependent on the season). Type of Organisation: Seal Rescue and Rehabilitation Facility (registered charity). Aims of organisation: Seal Rescue Ireland undertakes the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured and abandoned seal pups from the Republic and Northern Ireland. The charity is also educates the public on seal health and marine conservation with the motto “Healthy Seas, Healthy Seals” Types of Volunteers Accepted: – Internships: Interns work directly with rescued seals pups, while also assisting in running the shelter and educating the public. There are no fees for this role (but interns do need to cover their own cost of living) and the minimum commitment is 12 weeks. Read more below. – Day Volunteers: Volunteers of all ages, skills and abilities are encouraged to participate in the Rescuer for a Day program (RFAD), for a behind-the-scenes seal care experience. There is a fee for participating in this program. Read more below. – Veterinary Volunteers: While volunteers will not be working directly with vets (seals are taken to a local vet off-site if veterinary care is needed), there is some scope to learn about common medical conditions affecting seals, and to be involved in their treatment. Research Links: The facility has some research links with the Dublin veterinary school. Interns may also have the opportunity to collect (non-invasive) data for research projects. Funding: Funds are raised though visitor tours and purchases, as well as some government contributions. |
Introduction to Seal Rescue Ireland
It was a sunny Sunday morning when I drove my hire-car into the seaside village of Courtown. Located in County Wexford, in Ireland’s ‘Sunny South-East’, the village now draws more tourists to its beaches and amusement park than fishing trawlers to its historic harbour.
Tucked behind the sports centre, just a stone’s throw from the ocean, I came across the entrance to the Seal Rescue Ireland visitor centre.
I was met by Laura, a friendly and knowledgable intern, who welcomed me inside with a presentation about seals and a tour of the facilities. She explained in detail the threats that were facing the seal population, as well as the actions that we could all take to benefit marine conservation.
Then she put me to work! I took part in the Rescuer-For-A-Day program, and gained a first hand experience of what its really like to care for these unique animals (see more on the program below).
Background of Seal Rescue Ireland
The charity was originally established in 2010 in County Kerry, Ireland. However, the facility was irreparably damaged by storms in 2014, at which point it rebranded and relocated to its current site in County Wexford. The shelter now takes only young seals, and has managed to care for and release over 350 seals from its new site.
The shelter is run by a combination of staff and interns, who care for more than the seal’s husbandry needs. They also travel the country to rescue abandoned and injured pups and to educate the public at local events.
Facilities
The shelter is open to visitors 7 days a week, which allows the public to see the hard work that goes into caring for the pups. They have twelve kennels to house individuals, and 4 larger exercise pools for older seals as they head towards release. Out of the public view, there are eight intensive care kennels for critical patients, as well as food preparation and cleaning areas.
The site also features a bright and welcoming visitor centre, with a gift shop and plenty of educational resources.
The site does not have its own veterinary clinic. Veterinary care is provided by the local veterinarian in the nearby town when required.
Volunteer Roles at Seal Rescue Ireland
Interns
Internships at SRI are the best way to get hands on in the rescue and care of seal pups and learn about marine conservation.
Internships are offered for a minimum of 12 weeks. While no prior experience is required, those studying a relevant degree or who have shown relevant interest in wildlife care may be given preference for these limited positions.
Interns are expected to work a minimum of 5 days a week, and hours may be long depending on the needs of the seals in care. Interns generally rotate through different roles, including hands-on seal care and cleaning, to public education, to travelling to transport seals or spread awareness at local events.
There is no cost to become an intern, but you will need to budget for your living expenses (see more below).
Check out the Internships page of the SRI website for more details, or follow through to my interview with Laura the intern to read about her experience at SRI.
Day Volunteers (Rescuer-for-a-Day Program)
For those with limited time, SRI offers a rescuer-for-a-day program. RFAD visitors get a behind the scenes look at what goes into caring for rescued seals, as well as a private tour of the facilities.
‘Rescuers’ spend the afternoon behind the scenes with the team- cleaning enclosures, thawing out the fish delivery, preparing food and feeding the seals. They also get to watch a presentation all about the work of the organisation and learn what they can do to help with marine conservation.
I did this program when I visited the centre and really enjoyed it- the interns were welcoming and very knowledgable. I even got to feed the seals and spend time in their enclosures while helping to clean, so it was a special experience that I would highly recommend. There is a cost for the program of 50 euro, but its well worth it when you can see first hand that your fee is going to such a good cause.
Please note- this is a rehabilitation facility for wild seals, and although you may get to interact with individuals while feeding or cleaning enclosures, there is no handling or touching of the seals at any time. Seals cannot be released if they become habituate to humans, so the staff work hard to minimise human contact.
Practical Information
Accomodation and Food
Self-catered, shared accomodation can be arranged for long-term volunteers and interns a short distance away, at a cost of 90 euros a week. Having your own transport would be an advantage.
Working Hours
Interns generally work 5 days a week, which may include weekends. The standard work-day is 9am-6pm, but interns will also rotate on early and late shifts to accommodate the frequent feeding schedules of the young seals. Interns may work longer days during events, such as educating the public at festivals or shows, or travelling to assist with seal rescue or release.
Location: Getting to the Shelter
Address: Courtown Harbour, Co. Wexford Y25TP93
The shelter is located just behind the Courtown Adventure and Leisure centre, and shares a carpark with the larger building. Its a short walk from the Courtown town centre.
The site can be easily accessed by car, and is about an hour and a half drive from central Dublin. The google maps pin is accurate if you use it to navigate.
It is possible to reach the centre by public transport from the nearby town of Gorey, however the buses are fairly infrequent, so driving would be a better option.
Further Information
If you’d like to find out more about becoming a volunteer or intern at Seal Rescue Ireland, check out the Seal Rescue Ireland website, or look them up on Instagram or Facebook.
Want to hear first-hand what its like to be a Seal Rescue Ireland Intern? Read my interview with Lauren, as she shares her successes and challenges of volunteering with rescue seals!
Or are you interested in reading about other charities that need volunteer support? Read about other international opportunities on the Volunteer Organisations Page.
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