News
Danger warning as hundreds of jellyfish on Salthill beach
Salthill beaches have been awash with dead jellyfish for the past few weeks – but experts warn that despite being dead, they can still sting.
It may have been an unusual scene for the general public but experts in the marine biology department in NUI Galway weren’t a bit surprised as this is the mating season of that particular species of jellyfish.
Dr Tom Doyle, a marine biologist and an expert in gelatinous zoo plankton (jellyfish) ecology, said however that it was a growing cause of concern to see so many of them washed ashore.
In recent years, swarms of the species known as pelagia or commonly the mauve stinger, have been observed off Irish coasts at this time of year. And though some of them would inevitably end up on the beach, Dr Doyle did concede the number of them on Salthill beaches last week was high.
He said that once the jellyfish were washed ashore and stranded on the beach, their demise was inevitable as they get their oxygen from the water.
Dr Doyle, who is based in the Martin Ryan Institute in NUIG, said there was a Facebook page devoted to the creatures called the Big Jellyfish Hunt which monitored their movements year round.
“It’s not unusual to see swarms or brooms of them in the sea at this time of year as it is their mating season. The females release their eggs and the males are queuing up behind them which explains why so many of them are spotted in the one place.
“This particular one is an oceanic jellyfish and it survives most of the year on the ocean bed but surfaces during the mating season. Our Celtic Voyager vessel observed a line of them floating on the waters in Galway Bay which was one kilometre long, five to ten metres wide and probably five metres deep.
“That is their behaviour at this time of year but the South Westerly winds and the sea currents probably drove them in towards the beach where they were stranded,” he explained.
He said that it was always a concern to see so many of them dying in that manner but that marine records showed reports of similar swarms of them in Irish waters 100 years ago.
Dr Doyle stressed that though the jellyfish were dead, they could still sting and he warned people not to pick them up. He further warned daily swimmers to be aware of them in the water so close to the shore, as they were stingers.
They vary in size. Some are as big as a closed fist while others are quite tiny, only millimetres in width.
THIEVES have stooped to a new low over recent weeks in Galway city – stealing plants and shrubs from a public garden set up to remember organ donors and to help support their families.
The Circle of Life Garden in Quincentennial Park, Salthill, was developed in 2014, and has since attracted thousands of visitors – many of them remembering loved ones in a tranquil setting.
However, the garden – established by the Strange Boat Donor Foundation – has, over recent weeks, been the target of systematic thefts of plants and shrubs.
“It is with regret that the Charity now reports the recent systematic theft of newly planted shrubs and plants, some of which were planted by members of the organ donation community in memory of loved ones.
“Apart from the expense in buying and replacing plants and shrubs, this theft is so disheartening and demoralising, particularly for the many local volunteers who give of their time each week to maintain the garden and who lovingly care for its many features,” the Foundation said in a statement issued this week.
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A Galway grandmother who – in addition to her own six children and six grandchildren – has also cared 60 youngsters over 35 years was among dozens of foster carers honoured for their commitment and generosity at City Hall last week.
Deirdre Burke, from Milltown, is one of those is long-serving foster carers in the county, caring, with her husband Michael, for 60 children and young people – from four days old up to 17.
“It’s mainly girls we’ve fostered, so there are lots of girly things. The house looks like a florist sometimes with all the cards and flowers,” laughs Deirdre.
Indeed, given that she also supports people in aftercare, that upper age limit even stretches beyond 17.
“I was pregnant with my fifth child when I was first approved [to foster]. We started off with pre-adoption babies, who would come for a few days and then go for adoption,” she says.
“I loved the whole idea of taking a child into your home and making a difference.”
For a lot of people, the thought of bonding with a baby and then having to hand it back would probably make them think twice about fostering.
“It was difficult initially,” concedes Deirdre.
“I had to accept that they’re not my own and that I won’t be keeping them forever. I can just love them while I have them. At the end of the day, it’s all about the child, so you have to get over it.”
Deirdre and Michael were among dozens of foster carers honoured at an event hosted by the Mayor of the City of Galway, Councillor Clodagh Higgins, paying tribute to those who have given more than 20 years of their lives to help children and young people.
Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.
A major multinational employer supported by IDA Ireland has closed its European headquarters in Galway City – ending hopes of creating 200 high-skilled jobs.
Poly has confirmed to the Connacht Tribune that it has closed its offices at Crown Square in Mervue.
The communications software and hardware provider announced a new research and development base at Crown Square in September 2021. Recruitment commenced immediately.
It had plans to create more than 200 high-skilled jobs over five years and embarked on a further recruitment campaign in May 2022.
But a spokesperson confirmed it has shut its Galway base, and moved to Dublin, after it was subsumed by another company.
A spokesperson said: “Poly is now legally a part of the HP organisation and Poly employees, who were employed by Poly in Ireland, have joined HP’s trading entity in Ireland (HP Technology Ireland Limited).
“The Poly Galway office at Crown Square in Mervue is now closed. The focus of our operations continues to be located at HP Ireland’s main office in Dublin, where HP and Poly continue to build on synergy and collaboration.”
Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.
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