It’s the last leg of an epic journey.

An endangered loggerhead turtle boarded a flight to Gran Canaria at Cork Airport this morning, en route home to the Canary Islands.

The turtle, who has been named Mara, washed up on Dolan’s Beach in Clifden, Galway on September 13th, having been blown off course in the Sargossa Sea during Hurrican Dorian.

A kind passer by brought the dehydrated six-year-old turtle to Clifden Veterinary. Staff there contacted Dingle Oceanworld, who nursed Mara back to full health in a heated tank over almost two months.

Back in full health after a steady diet of squid at Oceanworld, Mara boarded a flight to Gran Canaria at Cork Airport this morning with aquarists Louise and Maria… but not before a special welcome from Ryanair and Cork Airport’s Kathleen Walsh, who ensured Mara had all the necessary documents for her trip.

Posting on Facebook, Oceanworld staff said: “There are many memorable days here in Oceanworld but this is definitely up there with the best. Mara will go to the Gran Canaria Turtle Hospital before being released into the sea at the island.”