GOOD MORNING. A giant hot air balloon with ten enormous boobs is currently flying over Galway.

What?

Yes.

Are people… afraid?

Yes, pretty much.

What in the name of the gods is with that hot air balloon in Galway? It's got tits hanging off all over it!? — David Kenny (@Garathon66) July 13, 2015 Source: David Kenny /Twitter

So what’s going on?

Well, the enormous ten-boobed creature is called the SkyWhale. It is the creation of Australian artist Patricia Piccinini and was first unveiled in Canberra in 2013.

Since then, it has travelled all around the world.

And now it has arrived in Ireland, as part of Piccinini’s exhibition at the Galway International Arts Festival.

Is that why I saw Teresa Mannion on the Six One dangling underneath a set of giant floating boobs, and studiously not mentioning the boobs?

Yes.

(Watch the full, hilarious broadcast here.)

So… why all the boobs?

The Skywhale’s official website describes them as “udders”. Piccinini has said that they reflect how whales are mammals and breast-feed their young.

She also told the Canberra Times: ”If it’s turned into something base or vulgar, it’s got nothing to do with the work – it’s got everything to do with the viewer and what they bring to it.”

Are people turning it into something base or vulgar?

Yes.

Can't wait for the Galway Arts Festival. The inflatable turtle bird with tits for wing is back pic.twitter.com/o2sQcIS9H5 — 19* (@BevSir) July 14, 2015 Source: Bevteke /Twitter

Reassuringly, Skywhale’s operator Kiff Saunders has a more straightforward approach. “Skywhale’s length and her pendulous breasts make her more difficult to land,” he told ABC News.

Finally, does it look funny when it’s deflated?

Yes.

Source: @galway2020

Skywhale will be dangling its boobs over Galway until July 19.