Canadian buoy drifts across Atlantic, washes up on shore of Irish island

Officials in northwestern Ireland say they're working to recover a large Canadian buoy that floated across the Atlantic Ocean and washed up on a coastal island.

A news release from Mayo County Council says the mariner marker, weighing in at roughly 3.5 tonnes, came ashore on Achill Island, known for its rugged mountains and bright sandy beaches.

It says council was told by the Canadian Coast Guard that its buoys, while "very friendly," have quite the habit of drifting far from home.

The council is looking to recover the buoy so as to prevent it from floating away and becoming a hazard to vessels or coastal infrastructure.

The release says the unusual visitor to the island can carry a navigation light and make a distinctive wave-powered whistling sound to alert nearby vessels.

The council adds the discovery is a lighthearted reminder of Mayo County's connection to Canada through generations of emigration, before demanding a blithe bit of a ransom.

"Should the Canadians wish to see their buoy again, they may have to make a special trip to Mayo to collect it," the release said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 7, 2026.

By Aaron Sousa | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.