Whiddy Island
Videos
Whiddy Island is an island near the head of Bantry Bay in Ireland. It is approximately 5.6 km long and 2.4 km wide. The topography comprises gently-rolling glacial till, with relatively fertile soil.
Whiddy Island seen from the south shore of Bantry Bay
Whiddy Island oil terminal, seen from the north shore of Bantry Bay in 2003
Disused tanker jetty
Whiddy Island oil storage tanks
Whiddy Island disaster
Videos
The Whiddy Island disaster, also known as the Betelgeuse incident or Betelgeuse disaster, occurred on 8 January 1979, around 1:00 am, when the oil tanker Betelgeuse exploded in Bantry Bay, at the offs
Whiddy Island
…to approximately 30 people. Previously home to Whiddy Island Naval Air Station, the island is noted for its oil terminal facilities – and the related Whiddy Island Disaster. As of the 2022 census, the island had a population of 31 people. This increases with visitors arriving during the tourist season; many staying in…
Burning wreckage of Betelgeuse near Whiddy Island on the morning of 8 January 1979
Unloading buoy