Army bomb disposal experts were yesterday examining what appeared to be British navy shells which washed up on one of Kerry's most popular beaches at the weekend.
The 30.48cm (1ft) long cylindrical shells are believed to be illumination shells used by the British navy during the first World War to illuminate the Irish coast.
They would have been fired into the air from cannons on navy ships, an army spokesman said.
An area at the blue flag Rossbeigh strand in south Kerry was sealed off by gardaí on Sunday evening after members of the public reported seeing what looked like two unexploded bombs on the beach.
When the First Southern Brigade of the bomb disposal team based in Collins Barracks arrived to investigate yesterday, three more shells were discovered near the shoreline.
A spokesman said three of the shells were very eroded and posed no threat. The others were still being examined yesterday afternoon.
He advised members of the public to report any sightings of any such material to local gardaí.
The spokesman stressed that even though in the sea for a long time, such material could still be live.