Strange creatures coming ashore

Dozens of alien-like creatures have been washing up along the West Cork coastline in recent weeks, and they’re still coming in droves.

Nicknamed the Portuguese man o’ war, these jellyfish-like organisms were extremely uncommon in Irish waters up until 2016 when they mysteriously began to show up out of the blue.

The dangerous marine invertebrates have appeared on Irish shores every year since during the months of September and October, causing local experts to question their origin and sudden appearance.

Understood to be the most venomous creatures in the Atlantic Ocean, these bizarre looking animals are said to pack an excruciating sting and can, in very rare cases, be deadly.

Commonly found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, the Portuguese man o’ war takes its name from warships used in the 1600s and uses a gas-filled sail to harness wind, allowing it to move across the water.

Speaking to the Cork Independent, Emer Keaveney, a marine biologist with Cork-based Ocean Research & Conservation (ORC), said that their recent appearance on Irish shores is likely due to changing weather patterns and warmer Irish waters.

Ms Keaveney said: “It’s probably due to increased storm surges and storms off the Atlantic. Storm Lorenzo was building just as we got the first influx. When we first sighted 16 of them on Cape Clear beach, it was just before storm Lorenzo hit.

“It's a jellyfish-like organism, but it's not a jellyfish. It's a marine hydrozoan. Up until 2016 it was very rare to see them in Ireland. It's common that, when they do appear, it's usually in large numbers.”

Swimmers and beach users have been warned not to touch the creatures and that their stingers can remain active long after they die.

Last Sunday a further ten were reported floating in waters off West Cork by ORC marine scientists. On the same day Deputy President of UCC, Prof John O'Halloran, reported close to 50 of them on Ballinskellig Beach to jellyfish expert Dr Tom Doyle.