Crowds gather to see dolphins swimming along the River Lee in Cork

“Let’s hope they find their way out”.

Corkonians were surprised to see six dolphins weaving through the waters of the River Lee over the weekend, frolicking in groups of two and three between the city’s Parliament and Trinity bridges.

The graceful swimmers were spotted at around 5:40pm, with cars slowing down and passersby capturing footage for social media.

There was speculation among sea creature enthusiasts as to what type the dolphins were, with the general consensus being they were delphinus delphi, also known as common dolphins.

Four common dolphins in the river Lee in Cork. They stayed for a couple of hours in Sullivans Quay. Let's hope they find their way out. pic.twitter.com/GqtdtwZOX2

— Oriol Giralt Paradell (@OriolGP4) October 14, 2023

This isn’t the first time dolphins have been spotted in the Rebel river – a couple were spotted by local photographer Terry McAuliffe in March of this year, with  another pair were also seen playing in the Lee back in November of 2021.

While onlookers worried the animals could be lost or in distress they seemed happy enough, and are believed to have travelled back down the river to Cork Harbour as the tide went out, Echo Live reported.

Great excitement along Fr Mathew Quay this evening as a pod of up to six dolphins swam ??in twos & three ???for well over an hour up and down a section of the River Lee between Parliament & Trinity bridges. #Cork pic.twitter.com/IEPYXpWYGE

— JennïeØSullivân (@OSullivanJennie) October 14, 2023

Header images via Getty 

READ NEXT: 

– Take That announce tour dates across Ireland with tickets onsale this week

– PICS: Vogue Williams’ luxury London home hits market for nearly €7m

– 24 of the most TikTok-able restaurants in Ireland to check out