The sight of a pod of dolphins swimming up and down the River Lee stopped Cork city's early morning commuters in their tracks.

For several hours, four dolphins have been swimming together in the water and coming up from time to time to spray water in the air as they breathe.

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The view drew "oohs and aahs" from the crowds gathered along the quay rails.

Last month, four dolphins entertained onlookers along the same section of the river between Parliament Bridge & Trinity Bridge before heading back out to sea.

Pádraig Whooley of the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group told RTÉ News that it is not unusual to see a group of dolphins up-river at this time of year,

The group's Sitghtings Officer said the pod that spent the day on the south channel of the River Lee are Common Dolphins - thousands of them can be found off the Irish coast.

At this time of the year, a lot of them are moving inland chasing spawning herring and sprat which are at their most calorific, he said.

They have also had sightings of Common Dolphins on the River Suir in Waterford city in recent days.

Mr Whooley said this pod seems to be swimming strongly and feeding well.

"We are keeping an eye on them but I would not be overly worried about them," he said.

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