Cork residents were in for a big surprise this weekend when they spotted a school of 6 dolphins swimming in the River Lee! Spotted around 5.40pm, they were spotted near the city’s Parliament and Trinity Bridges, causing astonishment and crowds on the riverbank!
Dolphins spotted in the heart of the city? That’s what happened this weekend in the rebel town in south-west Ireland. In the late afternoon, passers-by began scanning the waters of the Lee River… and spotted mysterious fins, intermittently flush with the surface.
The show soon draws in the crowds, and the cars lining the river slow down. It doesn’t take long for the sea creatures to be identified: they are dolphins! Belonging to the “delphinus delphi” species of common dolphins, they seem to be playing, twirling in all directions!
Apparently in good health, they nevertheless caused concern among some Cork residents. Their presence on the Lee River raised many questions: how did they get there? Will they make it back to the Atlantic Ocean? Are they in danger?
Anyway, this isn’t the first time dolphins have been spotted in the Lee River: a pair of dolphins were even spotted by local photographer Terry McAuliffe in March this year.
What’s more, another duo of these marine mammals has also been spotted playing in the Lee River in November 2021.
The event is therefore rare but possible.
Fortunately, the dolphins spotted at the weekend were reportedly seen making their way down the river to Cork Harbour as the tide went out. The good news is that the dolphins have returned to their natural habitat!
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