Among the tourists was Hilary Taylor who had come to Dingle..........a new optimism in him since he swam with Fungie.

Among the tourists was Hilary Taylor who had come to Dingle from Bath, England. She had lost her son eight months ago and had now come to Dingle, broken and dejected. One morning, Hilary walked along the beach. Recalling her son's death, she looked across the water and cried out, `I love you!' Just at that moment, Fungie appeared and swam towards her. He stopped and his head bobbed out of the water just ten feet from where Hilary was. Fungie appeared to have heard her cry and for the first time since her son's death, Hilary felt happy.

Hilary swam with Fungie everyday for a week. Fungie allowed her to touch him. His gentle and loving attentiveness helped Hilary to overcome her inconsolable grief. He became part of her healing, for the love that he gave her filled the gaping hole that Ian's death had left in her heart.

When Dingle's harbor had to be deepened using dynamite the local people were concerned about the harm the explosives would do to Fungie. The dolphin's sonar could be damaged by shock waves from the dynamite blasts and could even kill it. After knowing that shock waves can only travel in a straight line, members of the local diving club came up with a plan to protect Fungie.

On the morning the dynamite blasts were to take place, the divers drove their motorboat out to sea, taking Fungie with them. They turned around some rocky cliffs where Fungie was soon leaping about playfully, unaware that he was protected from the dangerous shock waves.

'We've got Fungie here', one of the divers, O'Connor, informed the blasters. They then jumped into the water to keep the dolphin occupied. They scratched his belly and playfully swam with him while the dynamite was set off. They would be with the dolphin until the blasting was over for the day. This went on for three weeks.

Today, Fungie brings cheer to the locals and to people from all over the world. British poet, Heathcote Williams, found the experience of swimming with Fungie so moving that it inspired him to write a poem. Indian author, Vikram Seth after swimming with Fungie, dedicated the libretto for an opera to Fungie. Fungie's healing presence was most felt in 1996 when he was visited by five-year-old Hughie Hamilton who had cerebral palsy and could not stand on his own. He could only walk with the help of a walker. In August that year, Hughie's parents watched him floating face down, holding his breath. Suddenly the dolphin swum beneath him. Hughie froze. After staring into Fungie's eyes for several seconds, Hughie raised his head, coughing and sputtering. Then a broad smile appeared on his face.

Two weeks later, Hughie was back home and seemed to be able to concentrate and relax better. Both his parents have noticed a kind of ease and a new optimism in him since he swam with Fungie.

Summary: Fungie has helped, healed and inspired many visitors who have got to know him. Among them was Hilary Taylor who was grief-stricken after the death of her son. Hilary felt that Fungie heard her as she called out to her son in her grief. Hilary went swimming with Fungie everyday and soon a bond developed between them. The attentiveness shown by Fungie helped Hilary to overcome her grief. Heathcote Williams, a British poet was inspired to write a poem after swimming with Fungie. Similarly, the Indian author, Vikram Seth dedicated the libretto for an opera to Fungie after swimming with him. Hughie Hamilton who suffered from cerebral palsy was able to concentrate and relax better after swimming with Fungie. When Dingle Harbor was about to be deepened using dynamite, the locals fearing that the shock waves from the blasting would kill Fungie, guided him behind a rocky cliff that protected him from the shock waves.