WHALE-LY EXPENSIVE
€150k skeleton removal bill for taxpayers
1862 Year fin whale was found beached in Bantry, Co Cork
THE removal of two iconic whale skeletons hanging from from the ceiling of the Natural History Museum is to cost taxpayers €150,000.
The building in Merrion Square, Dublin is currently seeking tenders from specialised contractors for the deinstallation of a 20m-long fin whale skeleton and a juvenile humpback whale.
The fin whale – the world’s second-largest species – was beached in Bantry Bay in 1862, while the humpback whale was found in Enniscrone, Co Sligo, in 1893. Their skeletal remains hang from the museum’s glass ceiling.
The successful contractors will be required to carefully deinstall the specimens and prepare them for transportation from the 160-year-old building while renovation works are under way.
It is understood the removal of the iconic exhibits may be temporary, and the tender documents note the service provider may be re-engaged to reinstall the skeletons at a later date.
The deinstallation works must be completed by the end of October, subject to the planned rollback of Covid-19 restrictions. The estimated value of the contract is €150,000 excluding VAT, according to the tender.
A spokeswoman for the National Museum of Ireland declined to state where the skeletons would be stored for the duration of the renovation works, which will involve the replacement of the building’s roof.
She said: “This project is an exciting first stage in the overall redevelopment and the NMI, working with its colleagues in the OPW and the [department], will be developing opportunities for our visitors and the public to find out more about this important work through our web and social media platforms.”