SHOPPERS IN Cork were treated to an unusual sight yesterday as three dolphins made their way up the river Lee in front of the new School of Music building.
The trio of common dolphins swam up the Lee’s south channel shortly after lunchtime. The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group says it is unusual but not without precedent for dolphins to enter a city environment.
At times dolphins are “over-zealous” in their hunting and pursue fish up the river.
At other times whales or dolphins follow a sick or confused member of their pod into city environments.
The sightings come just a day after a large pod of dolphins came within yards of Barleycove Beach in west Cork. About 20 bottlenose dolphins were spotted in the shallow waters just off Cockleshell Beach, opposite Barleycove caravan park near Crookhaven on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group says it received and validated 175 sighting records in June, 88 per cent of which were confirmed to 10 species, which include basking sharks.