The unusually high number of dolphins visible off the south-east coast is being attributed to a plentiful stock of fish.
While dolphins are regular visitors to Irish shores, Mr Jim Hurley, a Co Wexford-based volunteer with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, said a larger number than usual had been spotted in recent weeks.
"It is not unusual for dolphins to be spotted off the coast but the numbers are usually much smaller than what we have had lately.
"In the past couple of weeks up to 40 common dolphins have been spotted off Kilmore Quay and across at Dunmore East. These made up two schools, which is a lot at any time of the year," he said.
Mr Hurley said feeding opportunities for dolphins were plentiful off the Waterford and Wexford coastline. "There appears to be more fish around at the moment, with shoals of herring and mackerel being located."
Mr Hurley partly attributed the growing number of dolphin sightings to increased public awareness. "Most dolphins are transient and follow the feeding. In the sea there are thermal fronts, providing hot and cold areas. On our coast we have the Celtic Sea front, which runs from the Saltee Islands to the coast of Pembrokeshire in Wales.
"An upswell in the nutrients attracts fish and provides increased feeding in the area," he added. Mr Hurley also confirmed that two Fin whales had been spotted recently off the south-east coast, while a Dunmore East fisherman reported seeing a 100-ft whale off the Waterford coast. "Like the dolphins, whales also appear to have been attracted by the fish. However, their appearance is slightly more unusual. They have been seen off Hook Head, Ballyteige Bay and out past the Saltee Islands.
"Because of the calm weather in the past few weeks it has been easy to spot their blow, which goes up to quite a height. It was also easy to spot their fin and tails. They are obviously still out there but in rough weather are not as easy to detect."
Mr Neil Whittle, manager of the Dunmore East Fishermen's Co-op, also confirmed that his members had noted an unusually large number of dolphin sightings off the south-east in recent weeks.
"Even within the past couple of nights, fishermen have been spotting dolphins between Dunmore East and Brownstown Head. Crews on trawlers 50 or 60 miles off the coast have also seen them."
While fishermen regularly spotted dolphins, Mr Whittle said that in recent weeks the frequency of sightings had definitely increased.
"We often get one or two following the boats, and I recently saw one following the car ferry linking Passage East, Co Waterford, with Ballyhack, Co Wexford.
"However, we have noticed a huge proliferation in recent times. Unlike places like Dingle, which has a large bay, dolphins are not as easy to spot from the shore around the south-east."
The co-op manager also attributed the increase to a rich fish stock.