Earthquake recorded off coast of Cork
The Irish National Seismic Network (INSN) has said that an earthquake measuring 2.6 magnitude occurred off the coast of Cork today.
The quake occurred in the Celtic Sea around 18km south of Ballymacshoneen on the Seven Heads Peninsula in West Cork at 7.57am this morning.
It was recorded by INSN seismic stations in Valentia (Co. Kerry), Dublin and Wexford and British Geological Survey stations throughout Wales.
The INSN said the earthquake is the first known seismic event of its kind to be recorded in the region since Irish records began in 1978.
INSN Director Tom Blake from the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) said: "This is a noteworthy event considering its magnitude and the fact that it occurred in a region that has not previously shown any seismic activity since we started recording activity 35 years ago.
"We have received felt reports from Courtmacsherry and Timoleague, which are located 25 and 27 kilometres respectively away from the epicentre.
"We would invite anyone else who felt this morning’s earthquake to submit felt reports to us online at www.dias.ie."
The strongest earthquake recorded in Ireland in recent years took place on June 6, 2012, when a magnitude 4.0 earthquake was recorded 60km west of Aughleam, Belmullet, County Mayo.
The most significant land earthquake to be recorded in Ireland in recent years was in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, in May 2010 when a 2.7 magnitude quake hit.
It also was the first earthquake to be recorded in the west of Ireland in modern times.
