Dingle OceanWorld Aquarium (my second fish museum of the year) is the largest aquarium in Ireland! How could I resist?

Arriving just in time for the afternoon Reptile Encounter, I was pleased to meet an Irish tortoise named Gonzalez. His sister is Speedy (love these names). They were among 200 babies attempted to be smuggled out of Ireland in a suitcase and rescued by the border protection officers. The caretaker let me give Gonzalez a good pat.

Dingle OceanWorld, open to the public in 1996, also has an impressive program of loggerhead turtle rehabilitation. In fact, the focus of the aquarium is on conservation and education, right from the moment you enter the exhibits, which was wonderful to see.

Another wonderful thing was to notice covert Star Wars references throughout the aquarium. Why? A few years ago, the movie The Last Jedi was filmed in many locations around the Dingle Peninsula. One exhibit’s panel referred to The Starfish Wars, quoting Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn saying, “There’s always a bigger fish.”

The Atlantic coast is gorgeous all along this part of Ireland, and rich in sea life. Here are two gratuitous photos from a walk the next day along Dingle Bay, looking back towards Dingle town, where the aquarium is located. (No, I didn’t spot long-time resident dolphin Fungie the Dingle Dolphin. Maybe another time.)

Dingle OceanWorld Aquarium is museum no. 77 in my #100museums challenge (see 100 Museums Challenge).