THREE months ago, Fungie the dolphin vanished from Dingle harbour and hasn't been seen since.
The mystery surrounding his disappearance has fascinated the country, with no real clues as to what exactly happened to the beloved porpoise.
Many speculate that he might have died, while others hope that he's simply moved away, but another theory incredibly suggests that Russia is to blame.
Their use of location technology in Irish seas is reportedly impacting whale and dolphin numbers, and as a result, is now one of the most probable explanations for Fungie's disappearance.
Russian president Vladimir Putin is understood to have sanctioned increased use of this sub-ocean sonar system as a way of keeping tabs on the movement of British naval vessels.
A number of Irish TDs have hit out at the practice, and even hinted that Russia and their use of sonar near Dingle Bay could in fact be to blame for the missing dolphin.
"It could be the Russians. I could be Putin," said Fianna Fáil senator Ned O'Sullivan.
Sinn Féin front-bencher Eoin Ó Broin, who originally challenged the requirements for the use of sonar in Irish waters, stressed that Ireland was obliged to protect whales and dolphins who could be potentially affected by this technology.
Green minister Malcolm Noonan said he shared Mr Ó Broin's "concerns around the impact on cetaceans in Irish waters from underwater noises and acoustic disturbance, including sonar.
"The use of sonar technology by naval vessels has the potential to displace and even kill cetaceans," he added.
Cetaceans, like dolphins and whales, use sonar-like echo-location not only to communicate with one another, but also to observe their surroundings, find food and spot danger.
Sonar and other locations technology used by submarines and other vessels could have serious adverse effects on these creatures and the way they live their lives.
Could Fungie have been forced out of Ireland by the Russians, as crazy as that sounds? I guess we'll never know.
