Jimmy Cunningham IS Back

Legendary local journalist James Cunningham, who has entertained readers of the Drogheda Leader with his stories of frustrated pensioners hijacking buses, shoplifting dogs, and, in one case, of a robber who was caught by police on foot when he tried to cycle off with a shop's cash register on his handlebars (he fell over twice), has been poached by local rivals the Drogheda Independent.

Here's his latest:

"BATHERS in Laytown have called on anyone with a knowledge of marine life to help identify a frightening creature washed up on the beach last week.

The fish was on the seashore for no more than one hour when it was discovered.

Locals are undecided whether the creature is actually a fish or a variety of eel but one thing is for certain the creature is armed with razor sharp teeth, mysterious holes on the side along its body and a single eye perched on the top of its head.

Some seasiders dubbed the strange fish the ‘beach beast’ because of its grizzly looks.

The creature was discovered last Tuesday night by two walkers out on an early evening stroll.

The man who discovered the creepy fish, Jim Cooney said the fish is the oddest creature he has ever seen.

‘I’m walking the beach for over thirty years and I seen some unusual things.

‘But I can safely say I’ve never seen anything like it.

Jim, who lives in Marian Villas in Laytown said he walks the beach at least twice a day.

He said the creature would ‘freak out anyone’ because of its unusualness.

‘At first it looked like an eel but I can’t say with certainty what it is,’ he added.

Other locals who witnessed the freaky fish said they were scared by the teeth and the shape of the head.

Bathers who normally swim in the sea have called for the identity of the fish to be revealed before they’d get back in the water.

The area where the creature was washed ashore is a popular bathing spot especially with families.

The fish is approximately one metre in length and is red and black in colour.

The creature was discovered near Laytown church about 100 metres from the seashore.

Some locals say the creature looks like a relative of the Sea Lamprey.

Others disagree saying they were put off by the grizzly nature of the beach beast.

Jim Cooney has called for the creature to be identified to allay fears that the fish could be dangerous.

‘Certainly the razor teeth and mysterious holes make the creature look very, very scary.

‘I was amazed to see the spooky eye on the top of its head rather than at the side of the head.

‘I hope someone with a knowledge of marine life can tell us what it is,’ he added.

Over the past number of years many varieties of marine fish have been washed ashore in Laytown including a Basking Shark.


Last year the beach at Laytown was invaded by thousands of harmless jellyfish."

and HERE's the Beach Beast of Laytown.