In the heart of Dungarvan, Co Waterford, a small colony of seals has transitioned from a local curiosity to a town-wide phenomenon. The animals, known for their habit of sunbathing on a fixed paddleboard in the River Colligan, have become such a fixture of the urban landscape that a local volunteer is now campaigning for a permanent statue to honor the “surfing seals.”
The colony, estimated at around nine seals, typically appears in small groups of two or three to claim the board. The arrangement—a paddleboard anchored in the estuary—has created a unique intersection of wildlife and urban living, drawing photographers and tourists to the center of town to witness the animals resting just a short distance from local businesses and hotels.
Sar’anne Walsh, a Dungarvan resident and volunteer with Seal Rescue Ireland, has formally approached a local councillor to propose the monument. For Walsh and many other residents, the seals represent more than just a wildlife sighting; they have become a symbol of the town’s identity and a catalyst for environmental awareness.
The proposal for a statue comes after a period of significant anxiety for the community when the seals’ favorite resting spot vanished. In July 2023, the board became unmoored and floated out to sea, leaving the estuary empty and residents “devastated.”
The struggle and return of the surfing seals
The recovery of the paddleboard was a community effort. A local fisherman eventually located and returned the board, but the process of reintegrating it into the river was not immediate. Because the board had to be cleaned before its replacement, the original scent of the seals was removed, which created a hurdle for the animals in recognizing their territory.
It took nine months for the colony to return to the board in their original numbers and frequency. Walsh recalls the emotional impact of their return, describing a scene where tour bus drivers and passengers were seen gesticulating with excitement and wearing “huge, massive smiles” as they spotted the animals back on their perch.
The board itself was not a municipal project but a gesture of kindness from a local resident who placed it in the river approximately 15 years ago. Since then, the community has taken an active role in the board’s maintenance. During stormy weather, the board occasionally flips, exposing a barnacle-covered underside that the seals find unattractive. When this happens, locals intervene to flip the board back over or scrub the barnacles away to ensure the surface remains “amenable” for the colony.
A unique urban wildlife attraction
The placement of the board is considered strategic, providing the seals with a safe distance from human interference even as remaining visible to the public. This balance has allowed the seals to integrate into the town’s commercial life without compromising their well-being. Local businesses have begun to lean into the attraction, with some adopting the “surfing seals” name to capitalize on their fame.
The impact has extended into civic education. The local cinema now features an advertisement before films showing a seal on a surfboard with a message urging patrons not to throw away their rubbish. By linking the presence of the seals to the health of the estuary, the town has used the animals as a living bridge to discuss environmental conservation.
Garvan Cummins, who operates a bike hire business in the town, notes that the animals have become “very synonymous with Dungarvan.” He observes that the seals have evolved into an “iconic symbol” that brings a steady stream of visitors and photographers to the area.
Commemorating the ‘Happy Banana’
The drive for a statue is rooted in the belief that the seals’ presence is a global rarity. Walsh suggests that there is likely no other place in the world where seals sunbathe on a paddleboard in the middle of an urban estuary. This uniqueness, she argues, warrants a permanent tribute.
The proposed design for the statue would not just be a likeness of a seal, but a depiction of a specific behavior. When seals are particularly relaxed and content, they arch their bodies into a U-shape—a posture known as the “happy banana.”
“We have to commemorate what these seals mean to everybody locally. It’s just, it’s incredible,” Walsh said. “When seals are very happy, they do a U-shape, it’s called a happy banana. It’d be great to see that up on a statue.”
The call for the monument reflects a broader desire to recognize the emotional bond between the townspeople and the wildlife that has chosen to make the River Colligan its home. The seals’ return to the board has already sparked significant engagement across social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, signaling a strong community appetite for a permanent tribute.
| Date/Period | Event | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| ~15 Years Ago | Paddleboard placed in river | Established as a seal resting spot |
| July 2023 | Board becomes unmoored | Board floats to sea; seals disappear |
| Late 2023 | Board recovered by fisherman | Cleaned and returned to the river |
| Spring 2024 | Seals return to original numbers | Community celebration and tourist interest |
| Recent | Statue proposal submitted | Request sent to local councillor |
The proposal is currently with local representatives. While no official date for a vote or commissioning has been set, the push for the statue marks the next step in Dungarvan’s effort to formalize the relationship between its urban center and the natural inhabitants of the Waterford coast.
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