Blackrock - Jellyfish?

beardybrewer

Heard via my son's friend there's jellyfish down at blackrock?

Just kids trying to keep the spot to themselves or are there really a few jellyfish about? Figure there's bound to be someone in the know on here what the diving is like today.

inisboffin

beardybrewer wrote: »

Heard via my son's friend there's jellyfish down at blackrock?

Just kids trying to keep the spot to themselves or are there really a few jellyfish about? Figure there's bound to be someone in the know on here what the diving is like today.

The 'purple ring' ones were there a couple of weeks ago. They don't have tentacles and apparently don't sting. Yesterday when I was in I spotted different ones. Small, dark purple kind of clusters, but with tentacles. I am fairly sure they sting. I kept away. Only saw a few but the warmer it is...

zell12

Yes, we've been informed by the authorities of nature

beardybrewer

Thankfully didn't seem to be too many out yesterday evening. Loads of swimmers and jumpers at blackrock. Can't think of the last time I saw the place so mobbed with people.

Looks like we're getting all the sunny days out of the way before the long weekend.

biko

zell12 wrote: »

Yes, we've been informed by the authorities of nature

In case link breaks

Fri 25 May, 2018
Galway City Council is warning swimmers to be aware of the dangerous Lion’s Mane jellyfish, which have been spotted along the west coast in recent days.

The jellyfish’s sting is much stronger than those of other species found in Irish waters and can cause anaphylactic reactions in people who are allergic.

Whereisgalway

Does there be much crime in blackrock? Between the tri clubs and casual swimmers there must have been close to a 1000 people down there

Nettle Soup

Those lions mane jellyfish aren't too bad. Got stung a few times by them.
I find if I stay in the water for a while the sting goes away.

I got stung by a blue bottle jellyfish near Sydney once. Nasty business! I had the scars for 3 months.

The pink/purple ones don't sting but shoals of them aren't very nice.

inisboffin

Nettle Soup wrote: »

Those lions mane jellyfish aren't too bad. Got stung a few times by them.
I find if I stay in the water for a while the sting goes away.

I got stung by a blue bottle jellyfish near Sydney once. Nasty business! I had the scars for 3 months.

The pink/purple ones don't sting but shoals of them aren't very nice.

You might be in the minority with the reaction to the Lion's Mane, I know a couple of people who got sore stings. You can also have a reaction to them.

The pink/purple (ring) ones can sting. I've never been stung by one but they can give a mild one.

The purple/blue ones definitely sting and while rare enough there were at least 3 or 4 near me at Black Rock the other day.

Didn't see any today but here's a link with pics for people to read.

beardybrewer

Relevant for those interested in the sting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion%27s_mane_jellyfish#Sting_and_human_contact

biko

In case you get stung

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBtSH2AHwjY

Das Kitty

biko wrote: »

In case you get stung

^^ Very surprising, seeing as Friends is a very scientifically accurate show, but that's BS.

Haven't encountered a jelly yet this year. Galway Bay is like a bath at the moment. Gorgeous to swim these evenings.

topper75

Yeah was out in Spiddle on Monday - no jellyfish, and water is pleasant considering it is only June.

inisboffin

topper75 wrote: »

Yeah was out in Spiddle on Monday - no jellyfish, and water is pleasant considering it is only June.

Yep, haven't seen one for a week or so!

zell12

topper75 wrote: »

Yeah was out in Spiddle on Monday - no jellyfish, and water is pleasant considering it is only June.

hmm, yes pleasant

Whereisgalway

Anyone know why there was a red flag out in blackrock today?

Storm 10

zell12 wrote: »

hmm, yes pleasant

Spiddal beach closed until further notice today due to bacteria found in the water

Spiddal is a cess pool. Has been for years.

martin6651

Lions Mane jelly fish saw seen around the tower so life guards put up red flag.

dmc17

zell12 wrote: »

hmm, yes pleasant

Apt lyrics? :pac:

zell12

Anyone know what effect the "high levels of bacteria" would have, or even what type it is?
Local authorities are stingy and vague with information

inisboffin

Whereisgalway wrote: »

Anyone know why there was a red flag out in blackrock today?

Lions Mane(s?) in the water

kal7

Did 2km swim from Blackrock today only couple of jellys. All about two metres down, saw three large ones. Main body slightly larger than football.

One of which looked like a lions mane to me. Was at the time 500metres from tower.

ronnie3585

The Tribune’s FB page have posted a video of a massive Lion’s Mane jelly in Blackrock. Hate the fu*kers!

Edit: now with added link - https://www.facebook.com/ConnachtTribune/videos/1800673639988870/

jconn

http://connachttribune.ie/swimmers-hospitalised-following-invasion-of-lions-mane-jellyfish-101/
I know "hospitalised" could mean a trip to casualty, but these guys sting can be nasty, hope this is not the start of a regular infestation of Galway Bay by Lions Mane. 
I'd imagine swimming into one of these in open water could result in quite a fright and maybe swallowing water

Nettle Soup

Most encounters cause temporary pain and localized redness. In normal circumstances, and in healthy individuals, their stings are not known to be fatal. Vinegar can be used to deactivate the nematocysts, but due to the large number of tentacles medical attention is recommended after exposure.
There may be a significant difference between touching a few tentacles with finger tips at a beach, compared to an accidental swimming into one. The initial sensation is more strange than painful, it feels like swimming in to a bit warmer and somewhat effervescent water. Some minor pains will though soon follow. It's not a pleasant feeling, and especially not for children. Normally there is no real danger to humans (with exception of people suffering from special allergies). But in cases when someone has been stung over large parts of their body by not just the longest tentacles but the entire jellyfish (including the inner tentacles, of which there are around 1200), a visit to a health care centre or similar is recommendable.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion%27s_mane_jellyfish

Whereisgalway

Are the jelly’s back with the sunshine?

inisboffin

A couple of Lion's Mane spotted near Ladies' beach yesterday apparently.

Anyone in swimming today? Want to go in later, and still frightened of Jellyfish
Any non-purple ones about?

inisboffin

Deleted User wrote: »

Anyone in swimming today? Want to go in later, and still frightened of Jellyfish
Any non-purple ones about?

Was in yesterday in Blackrock (as was most of Galway!)

Loads of the 'less stinging' clear with purple rings, and spotted a few very small lions mane.

Heard the lifeguard talking to a woman about them and said they are not much of a 'bad' sting risk as so small.

inisboffin

inisboffin wrote: »

Was in yesterday in Blackrock (as was most of Galway!)

Loads of the 'less stinging' clear with purple rings, and spotted a few very small lions mane.

Heard the lifeguard talking to a woman about them and said they are not much of a 'bad' sting risk as so small.

Cool, thanks. Yeah, the purple ones are grand. Grabbed a couple by accident on Tuesday when swimming. Going to try to get in again this evening so

inisboffin

Deleted User wrote: »

Cool, thanks. Yeah, the purple ones are grand. Grabbed a couple by accident on Tuesday when swimming. Going to try to get in again this evening so

Cool.

By purple, I mean the moon ones with rings. There are purpleish lions mane, and a variety called 'blue' that are 'clumps' of purple. The former 'moon' ones are mostly harmless but the latter can sting. Just to say there were a few stings yesterday, but nothing dangerous as the ones there (Lion's Mane) were small. But it's worth the risk

joeKel73

Swam out around the 500m and pink buoys yesterday and there were hundreds of jellyfish. Mostly small and fairly harmless. Was in a wetsuit but got a bit of a sting around the lips after properly face-planting into one of them! Mild nettle-like sting, wore off within an hour.

I only went out to the Salthill Hotel from Blackrock last night, but I had never seen such an infestation of those purple jellyfish. Every stroke seemed to ring me into a school of them. No stings, but annoying. My heart jumped every time I touched one

Boardnashea

I was paddling (kayak) on the other side of the bay yesterday evening and met 4 Lions Mane monsters. Biggest was about 60cms across the top. Huge thing! Wouldn't like to be in the water with them.
There were also places where you could nearly walk across the water with all the compass jellies and small purples.

charlie_says

Divers reported multiple Lions Mane jellyfish

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion%27s_mane_jellyfish

off Black Head in Galway bay this weekend in shallow water

beardybrewer

https://www.breakingnews.ie/discover/watch-jellyfish-hospitalises-swimmers-off-galway-coast-851268.html

Noticed an ambulance at Blackrock last thurs.

Das Kitty

beardybrewer wrote: »

https://www.breakingnews.ie/discover/watch-jellyfish-hospitalises-swimmers-off-galway-coast-851268.html

Noticed an ambulance at Blackrock last thurs.

Hospitalised just means went to hospital.

I would be astounded if someone not suffering anaphylaxis got an ambulance and didn’t just get a lift. It’s easily treatable at home. I just think the lion’s mane fever is taking over.

Was in last night, sea temperature has dropped a lot, and I saw no jellies.

beardybrewer

Agree it's meant to be rare but their tentacles can reach 58m so if you're unlucky and really get wrapped up it can get serious. Don't denigrate unless you know what you're talking about.

Das Kitty

beardybrewer wrote: »

Agree it's meant to be rare but their tentacles can reach 58m so if you're unlucky and really get wrapped up it can get serious. Don't denigrate unless you know what you're talking about.

Who was I denigrating?

I was just suggesting that the ambulance you saw was there for another reason.

I believe that article is based entirely on the earlier Tribune article (Enda Cunningham suggested it was on Twitter). I was there in the morning last Thursday. There were plenty of pink jellies, and I saw one beached compass.

I'd hate to see people miss out on an amazing facility because of fear of jellyfish.

Das Kitty

Das Kitty wrote: »

I'd hate to see people miss out on an amazing facility because of fear of jellyfish.

That's totally me

Das Kitty

Deleted User wrote: »

That's totally me

I’ve been in every second day since the end of May and haven’t been stung once by any jelly. It’s so gorgeous and clear and refreshing. A pair of goggles and you’ll spot any nasties, or do a recce at the top of the tower and take a look around.

Sycamore Tree

Totally agree. The jellyfish phobia is really getting out of hand.

Sycamore Tree

beardybrewer wrote: »

Agree it's meant to be rare but their tentacles can reach 58m so if you're unlucky and really get wrapped up it can get serious. Don't denigrate unless you know what you're talking about.

Where was there a lion's mane with 58m tentacles?

Whereisgalway

Sycamore Tree wrote: »

Totally agree. The jellyfish phobia is really getting out of hand.

Are they all gone?

Sycamore Tree

Whereisgalway wrote: »

Are they all gone?

There will always be jellyfish in Galway Bay..:)

joeKel73

Sycamore Tree wrote: »

Totally agree. The jellyfish phobia is really getting out of hand.

I heard one killed a guy, with a trident.

jimbobaloobob

Sycamore Tree wrote: »

Where was there a lion's mane with 58m tentacles?

The largest recorded specimen found washed up on the shore of Massachusetts Bay in 1870, had a bell with a diameter of 2.3 metres (7 ft 6 in) and tentacles 37.0 m

zell12

When are going to appear on gourmet dinner plates of local eateries?

joeKel73

Very few jellyfish in the water last night.

Das Kitty

J o e wrote: »

Very few jellyfish in the water last night.

I think the colder water doesn't suit them. Hoping to get in tonight.

zell12