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Portuguese men o' war marine animals washed up along Irish west coast

A Portuguese man o' war
A Portuguese man o' war A Portuguese man o' war

PORTUGUESE men o' war have washed up in large numbers along the west coast of Ireland this month, according to reports.

The marine animals are more commonly found further south in the Atlantic Ocean but have recently been spotted as far north as Kincasslagh in Co Donegal.

The animals, which are pale purple and resemble a balloon with a 'Cornish pasty' shape, have stinging tentacles that can cause severe pain to humans. If found, they should not be handled.

They look similar to jellyfish but are a different type of marine animal known as a siphonophore.

Recent storms may have washed the animals ashore.

NUI Galway Ryan Institute marine biologist Dr Tom Doyle told The Irish Times it was unusual to see the animals so far up the Atlantic seaboard.

"What makes this event unusual is the large numbers washing up since September 12 until now and how widespread the records are, from Cork harbour all the way to Donegal," he said.