Portuguese Man O’ War invade Clare beaches as experts warn stings can kill humans DAYS after they die
SCORES of the potentially deadly Portuguese Man O’ War have been washed up on Clare beaches over the past seven days.
Large numbers of the jellyfish-like creatures, which are rarely seen in Irish waters, have been recorded on three Clare beaches.
And experts are warning that their stings can kill humans even two days after they die.
In one incident, 19 individual creatures were recorded on Fanore Beach in the Burren, in what is thought to be the largest sighting of Portuguese Man O’ War ever in Clare.
The Portuguese Man O’ War is not a jellyfish but a number of interdependent organisms.
It contains a powerful venom which can paralyse small fish and can cause an extremely painful and occasionally fatal allergic-like reaction in humans.
Clare beachcomber, Liam McNamara, has seen large strandings on Fanore, Quilty and White Strand beach in Miltown Malbay in recent days.
Liam said: “I saw the first group of them last week and I have been seeing them on-and-off ever since. I saw 19 in a mile-long stretch on Fanore Beach.
“I have seen them in Quilty, on the Atlantic side of Seafield, and I’ve seen one or two at the Whitestrand in Miltown Malbay.
"They have varied in size from very small to quite large. I was out in Fanore this evening and there was just one there, a very large one.
“They are fabulous looking creatures. They have an amazing pinky-blue colour to them, they catch your eye the minute you see them.
“I’ve seen them on and off over the years but it is strange to see them in these numbers.
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"Last year we had quite an influx of them and again this year. It is unusual to see it. This comes after all the Lion’s Mane that we had this year too so it is a great summer for jellyfish in Clare.
“They are sometimes still alive for a while when they are stranded but they usually don’t last too long.
"But it is important to remember that their stingers can sting you two days after they die, so people need to be careful."