The public is being warned to be vigilant after reported sightings of a highly toxic plant on Bettystown Beach in Co Meath.
Meath County Council said that there have been possible sightings of Hemlock Water Dropwort washed up on the beach.
It said the roots of this plant are described as looking like parsnips, but that they are highly toxic.
The public has been warned not to touch anything that looks like a parsnip shaped root on the beach, to keep children and pets away, and to contact Meath County Council.
It warned that brushing against the plant could irritate the skin and that ingesting it could be "severely dangerous" for people and animals.
Local man Max Cody said he spotted the plant while out walking on Bettystown beach on Tuesday.
He runs an outdoor adventure business and also works in a forest school teaching children about plants.
"I was just walking on the beach, and it caught my eye because I hadn't seen it before on the beach. I'm there every day and I always go out after storms and high tides to see what washes up," he said.
After analysing the plant, Max posted about it on a local Facebook group to alert the community.
