Warning issued as lethal Portuguese men o’ war could be on Irish beaches

Look out for them.

A warning has been issued to the Irish public, in particular those who use their local beach, as potentially lethal Portuguese men o’ war could be lurking in the water or on the beach following Storm Ophelia. Zoologist Dr Tom Doyle is appealing to anyone who accesses beaches, from surfers, swimmers, farmers and even walkers. He has said that although the Portuguese men o’ war will die after being stranded, their venom can still remain active for a number of days. He told The Irish Times:

"Each tentacle can carry hundreds of thousands nematocysts or stinging capsules, which are just 10 to 20 micons in size and contain a tiny little protective harpoon with venom. The southerly winds we had during Ophelia will have swept many up from the Bay of Biscay area, but as yet we have not received many specific reports."

The Portuguese men o’ war are pink or purple in colour and look like a jellyfish with a swollen balloon form.