The Hook Lighthouse provided the perfect backdrop for whale-watching at the weekend (Pic: Myles Carroll)

THE FIRST humpback whale to be spotted off the coast this year appeared in the water near Hook Head at the weekend.

On Saturday, the ‘Rebecca C’, under skipper, Martin Colfer, took a group of whale watching enthusiasts out from Duncannon harbour and from the off the omens were good as within a very short space of time the group spotted in excess of 100 dolphins.

Around four or five miles south of Hook Head the group came across five Fin Whales and according to Mr. Colfer it wasn’t long after that the tell-tale ‘blow’ of a humpback was spotted.

“We kept going and then not too long after seeing the Fin Whales we saw the blow and it turned out to be the first humpback of 2016,” he told the Echo.

The eight-person group on board the boat included award-winning photographer and Enniscorthy Camera Club PRO, Miley Carroll, who took some fantastic shots of the occasion.

Mr. Carroll, who was the photographer for the RSVP Wedding Bride of the year winner in 2015, also expressed delight at what he witnessed.

“It was a great day out and there was great excitement when the humpback was spotted,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Colfer highlighted the fact that the whale-watching season is quite short and said anyone interested in going out on a trip should contact him as soon as possible on 087-2657177 or through the Facebook page ‘Off The Hook with Martin Colfer’.