Two locals have shared footage of the moment they were told about dolphins which had washed ashore on a popular Louth beach.
Seán McMahon and Andrew Hendy, founding member of the internationally-acclaimed Mary Wallopers band, were set to go paddleboarding at Blackrock beach on Friday when a woman at the beach called for their help.
Two dolphins had washed up on the beach after a very high tide on Thursday night, and the dolphins had been stranded ashore behind the old boathouse "in a state of panic", according to Seán.
"The tide was rapidly going out and we thought maybe we could carry them out to the water on our boards, but after speaking to a lady from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group on the phone we learned this could damage their fins which are very delicate," Seán explained in a post online.
The duo were then advised to carefully dig some sand out from underneath the sea creatures' fins so they could rest at the correct angle, as they waited for help to arrive.
Other locals were quick to step up and help the dolphins, with buckets of water and wet towels used until the gardaí arrived, followed by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and members from Dundalk Sub Aqua Search and Rescue.
The group were able to carry the dolphins out to the river in the bay, and thankfully the dolphins were able to swim along the river, guided out to sea by volunteers in the water.
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