The recent warm weather means more of us are hitting the coast and soaking up the sun by the sea. But unfortunately a downside to all this sunshine is it can attract some very unwanted visitors, particularly jellyfish.

Dangerous Lion’s Mane Jellyfish
While some types can just be a bit of a nuisance others can pose a more serious threat. A particularly dangerous variety, Lion’s Mane jellyfish, have been spotted off the Galway coast and swimmers are warned to be careful.
A woman was hospitalised on Saturday after she was stung on the face at Blackrock beach. This follows two men being hospitalised earlier in the week after being stung.
Lion’s Mane jellyfish are becoming increasingly common in Irish waters. The can grow to be 2 metres in diameter and have a long mane of sting-covered tentacles. Their sting can be very severe and dangerous causing blisters, irritation and in some cases can cause anaphylactic shock.
Check out our handy guide to help identify pesky jellyfish!