Killer Whale spotted this morning in Grand Canal in Tullamore

Paul McRingo | Hurling Correspondent

A large male killer whale was spotted this morning in the Grand Canal in Tullamore.

Our photo shows the whale swimming along the canal in the Clontarf Road area of the town and experts say he appears to be about 8 meters in length.

Sergeant Bertie Quinn from Tullamore Garda Station said the general public have nothing to fear.

“Despite the name and reputation, killer whales are actually not dangerous to people at all. In fact there are no known incidents of a killer whale ever attacking a human being. Or is that dolphins I’m thinking of?”

Efforts to guide the whale towards the sea were unsuccessful as Tullamore is in the Midlands and the Grand Canal doesn’t flow into the sea.

The whale was last seen heading west towards Pullough.