Niantic Labs, the creators behind the newly launched app Pokémon Go, have confirmed that the release of the popular game in the UK, Ireland and Netherlands has been delayed.

There is an unofficial way of getting Pokémon Go in Ireland that involves a bit of tech-savvy tinkering, but that may be the only way for Irish fans to get their mitts on the game, for some time to come.

Pokémon Go blasted to the No. 1 spot on the US iPhone charts in less than half a day, something that has never happened before in Apple's long history. Nintendo has also been reaping the benefits of the game's launch, with an estimated 25% rise in the company's stock price in the short time since the app's release.

Its extraordinary success notwithstanding, it seems that Irish fans of the Pokémon series will have to make do with the unofficial method of downloading the app until the app's producers release it officially here. More news as we get it...