A baby swan has been rescued after getting stuck in the brambles at a football pitch in Galway.
A swan and two cygnets were wandering Páirc Finne training pitch at Corofin GAA when one got trapped in the briars.
The cygnet was discovered by volunteers at Corofin Tidy Towns, who set about freeing their feathered friend so they could join their family in the river.
“Hero of the day” David O’Loughlin was able to release the cygnet and carried them to safely swim off by the Lachán.
The volunteer organisation heralded David’s actions as they called out other members for aiding the rescue mission.
“One swan and two cygnets departed the Lachán today and decided to hit for Páirc Finne Training Pitch,” said a spokesperson from Corofin Tidy Towns.
“One cygnet got trapped in the briars and hero of the day David O’Loughlin freed the little one and we carried to the river. Thank you to David, Sarah, Joe for caring and making the effort to help and David’s vigilance. One swan and one cygnet still on Lachán.”
The swans have been at the Lachán in Corofin. During that time, the Tidy Towns committee have called Galway Swan Rescue as well as Hogsprickle Wildlife Carers over concerns about the cygnets. Unfortunately, some cygnets are believed to not have survived August.
Only about 50pc of swan cygnets survive their first year of life, with the highest mortality rate occurring within the first two weeks due to weather, environment and predators.