BALLYVAUGHAN has been placed on high alert after due to the presence of mauve stinger jellyfish (pelagia noctiluca).
Ballyvaughan Community Group has alerted both locals and visitors to the popular North Clare destination to be wary of the purple jellyfish while stating that it is “extremely rare” for the sea creature to be seen in the area.
Popular swimming destinations in the area include Bishop’s Quarter Beach as well as the nearby Flaggy Shore and Ballyvaughan’s bay and pier.
Mauve stinger jellyfish are small and purple or maroon in colour and are noted for their bioluminescence, meaning that they can produce a low level of light visible to humans in the dark. Both the jellyfish’s tentacles and bell (head) are covered in stinging cells which are well known for being extremely painful.
The sting causes pain that typically lasts one to two weeks, local redness, swelling and a rash, but it is generally not dangerous and there are no known fatalities. On occasion, symptoms may be more general and include dizziness, vomiting and diarrhoea. The sting has been known to cause a serious allergic reaction and leave scars or hyperpigmented marks on the skin that can remain for years after the encounter.
In a post on social media, Ballyvaughan Community Group stated that they have “been alerted to the presence of mauve jellyfish in Ballyvaughan. They are a purple jellyfish with tentacles. They give a nasty sting that can be very painful and last for weeks. It is extremely rare for them to be in the water here”.
“At first sight they could be mistaken for moon jellies that don’t sting, but when you look closer you’ll see they have tentacles which moon jellyfish do not. Be careful when swimming”, the group added, asking people to please share the post.
