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Earthquake rattles west of Ireland

By
JANE WALSHE,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Saturday, May 8, 2010, 7:12 AM
Updated Saturday, May 8, 2010, 8:01 AM

 

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An earthquake rattled the west of Ireland on Thursday

A small earthquake shook West Clare on Thursday, marking the first time in recorded history such a seismic event had occurred.

Irish authorities confirmed that a  “seismic event” measuring 2.7 on the Richter scale took place at 10.24 p.m. on Thursday.

Thomas Blake of the school of cosmic physics at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies told the Irish Times the quake was 10 times more powerful than a previous one in Donegal.

“It was a reasonably good shake,” he said, adding it was a very important as it was the first time a quake had occurred in the west of Ireland since records began.

 “This event forces us to re-evaluate the west of Ireland’s geology as tremors in the past have only been felt in Co Donegal and the southeast coast.

“Globally, there might be as many as 1,000 of that magnitude per day, so it’s nothing out of the ordinary – it’s just unusual for Ireland,” said meteorologist Joan Blackburn of Met Éireann.

Describing the tremor, a Liscannor resident Martin Doyle told the Times: “I felt the whole roof shake. I thought the wall was collapsing. My neighbor called and he thought that the sound he heard was me falling down the stairs.”

Lahinch hotelier, Michael Vaughan said: “The sound was something like a sonic boom. Other people living in the area were disturbed by it.”

A police spokesman in the area said,  “We received a number of phone calls at the time from people reporting a loud bang.”

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10 Comments

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Posted by Mollyanne on May 13, 2010, 11:06 AM EDT
Look at the previous news item on this issue is this part what Mr. Coleman is predicting?? Who Knows?? It's obviously a warning for something.
Report abuse
Posted by glencolme on May 12, 2010, 03:21 PM EDT
As long as it didn't break any bottles of Red Breast at O'Connors no harm done. The Ould Man
Report abuse
Posted by Maosurfer on May 12, 2010, 01:43 PM EDT
California - land of rudeness!
Report abuse
Posted by CaliforniaShamrock on May 10, 2010, 11:28 AM EDT
2.7 you Irish are whimps!
Report abuse
Posted by Nelliegrace on May 10, 2010, 10:48 AM EDT
Mother Nature has been showing she is still in charge all over the globe recently. Thankfully, it was not a larger quake. I could not bear to have Ireland face such destruction.
Report abuse
Posted by srcarrvt on May 09, 2010, 08:20 PM EDT
it's in the book. Revelations is coming alive.
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Posted by Advocate on May 09, 2010, 11:26 AM EDT
We the SHEEPle, who remain un-repentant before Yahweh/God, have not seen anything yet! Exciting, isn't it? Blessing to each of you and yours. ...and to think the RCC has recently banished the use of His Holy Name YHWH... We shall pay a price unlike any other!
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Posted by jacersisityourself on May 09, 2010, 11:00 AM EDT
I solemnly declare and confirm that the earth shuddered in Clare and its effect reverberated all the way to Dublin. My ash tray unexpectedly vibrated and created an Icelandic plume in my living room. All models of aircraft are now banned from flying through my sitting room.
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Posted by Ernesider on May 08, 2010, 11:08 PM EDT
... surely that man thinking it was the neighbour falling down the stairs could have said something else. Martin Doyle could afford to loose a few pounds as could a lot of the rest of us but he wouldn't be that noisey falling down the stairs as I have seen and heard the man fall manys the time after he had a few too many long before there were earthquakes in the Burren country.
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Posted by Monsoonman on May 08, 2010, 12:46 PM EDT
I would be glad to come back to the auld sod and show my brethren what the meaning of rebar is when you build structures.
 


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