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SEVENTEEN LION’S MANE jellyfish were removed from Sandycove beach yesterday by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

The council said that the action was taken on the advice of the Irish Water Safety and the Irish Coast Guard.

Red warning flags have been erected on Killiney, Sandycove and Seapoint beaches in lifeguard patrolled areas and swimmers are being warned to be vigilant.

Dangerous

The signs advise bathers not to enter the water due to a presence of a “specific jellyfish” whose sting can be dangerous and cause serious symptoms including nausea, vomiting and respiratory distress.

Last week, a lion’s mane jellyfish was spotted in the sea near Sutton, while in another incident a young girl was rushed to hospital in Cork with anaphylactic shock after a severe jellyfish sting.

Lion's mane jellyfish spotted in Dublin Bay last week. Irish Water Safety Irish Water Safety

The lion’s mane jellyfish is the largest in the Irish Sea. It can reach a bell diameter of 2 meters and a bell margin divided into 8 lobes and 8 clusters of up to 150 tentacles each, according to Irish Water Safety.

John Leech, chief executive of Irish Water Safety told TheJournal.ie that sightings of the lion’s mane jellyfish have been reported all along the east and west coast of Ireland, as far up as County Mayo.

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“They can be very dangerous, causing anaphylactic shock. The man o’war jellyfish and the lion’s mane jellyfish are very different to one another, but both equally dangerous. The lion’s mane is huge and can have tentacles up to 100 feet long. If that washes up on the beach it could cause some real damage to someone,” he said, adding people need to stay well away from them if seen, as the pain of a sting can be excruciating.

He said that the jellyfish are likely to be in Irish waters for some weeks to come. High temperatures and the north Atlantic current is bringing them to our waters.

“The sea temperatures are at their warmest in September, so they could be here for some time,” said Leech.

If you get stung by a jellyfish, Irish Water Safety recommends you follow this advice.

Read: Deadly Lion’s mane jellyfish spotted in Dublin Bay>