A very rare black swan has joined a group of regular swans in the waters off the famed town of Claddagh in County Galway.

A black swan has never been seen in the county before, not surprisingly as they are native to Australia.

Locals have been showing up in large numbers to say “Cead Mile Failte” to their latest exotic visitor who is not expected to stay long.

Black swans only mate with similar black swans so she may be on her way shortly in search of romance.

Locals speculate she may have flown in from England but quite how she got to Galway will always remain a mystery.

Black swan event has become a byword for the most unusual events to happen.

The recent world financial collapse was rated a “black swan” event by many experts, i.e. highly unlikely to happen.