New research has found a direct link between Celtic Tiger sun holidays and the massive rise in skin cancer cases in recent years.

The figures from the National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) have been published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

They show that the number of new cases grew by 1% every year between 1994 and 2002 - with that figure sky-rocketing to between 6% and 10% as spending on sun getaways rose until 2011.

NCRI Director is Dr. Harry Comber.

He says the findings are worrying, and are particularly noticeable in people aged 40 and under.