Several people were hospitalised after being stung in Galway at the weekend
A marine expert has warned the public about the dangers posed by "large and mature" lion's mane jellyfish appearing in Irish waters this summer.
Lion's Mane are one of the largest of the jellyfish species in existence and pose a serious risk to swimmers.
A sting from a Lion's Mane can cause severe pain and illness, including “Irukandji-like” syndrome.
Victims of the syndrome can experience headaches and backaches abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and there is even a risk of cardiac arrest associated with it.
Dr Tom Doyle, a zoology lecturer at University College Cork confirmed sightings of the stinging jellyfish, in several locations in Galway, Blackrock swimming tower, Barna, Rinville near Oranmore, Traught near Kinvara, and also in Newquay, Co Clare.
Speaking to the Irish Times, Dr. Doyle said: “It is not correct to say this is the first time they have been spotted on the west coast, as we had reports for the last two years, but they are particularly large and mature."
He added that the creatures are more commonly found on the east coast of Ireland and sometimes as far as the northwest.
“They normally prefer the Irish Sea as it is cooler, and the hotspots are the Forty Foot in south Dublin, and popular swimming places like Bettystown, Co Meath and Clogherhead, Co Louth, and right around to Donegal, ” he explained.
He is also urging anyone who spots jellyfish in Irish oceans to report their sightings to the National Biodiversity Data Centre website and the Big Jellyfish Hunt Facebook page and include a photo if possible.
