A school of dolphins which delighted Corkonians this week returned to Cork Harbour yesterday and settled off the Naval Headquarters at Haulbowline.
The seven common dolphins - five adults and two calves - were herded from Penrose Quay in the city to Roche's Point on Thursday by Naval divers under the direction of marine biologists Dr Emer Rogan and Dr Simon Ingram.
However, they followed the Cork-Swansea ferry back into the harbour before settling between Cobh and Haulbowline where they feasted on the plentiful supplies of mackerel.
Lieut John Leech of the Naval Unit at Haulbowline said: "We consulted Dr Rogan and she was happy they're not in any danger - they're not in freshwater like they were up by Penrose Quay and once people don't get too close, they're unlikely to get too stressed.
"They're incredibly intelligent animals so they have no problem knowing when to dive and keep out of the way of passing shipping traffic and there seems to be plenty of mackerel about, so they're quite happy."
Common dolphins, unlike bottlenose dolphins like Fungie in Dingle, rarely come into estuaries. They continued to be popular, with many families coming to Cobh to see them.