Minor quake hits south east

There were reports on social media of a minor earthquake off the south east coast last evening but early readings from Irish seismograms weren’t picking up anything conclusive.

A Welsh station did record a mild tremor shortly before 9pm. But Twitter and Facebook posts suggested the quake was felt strongest in Wexford. There are no reports of damage and initial readings of data from Irish National Seismic Network were inconclusive.

In December last year, sensors on Valentia Island and in Wexford recorded a 2.6 magnitude earthquake.

It’s believed the epicentre of the quake was under the Celtic Sea about 25km south of Courtmacsherry off the Cork coast.

People from a number of areas, including Courtmacsherry and Timoleague, reported doors rattling while others believed that a tree had fallen down nearby.

Director of the INSN Tom Blake says earthquakes around Ireland are usually at a magnitude of 1.5 or 1.8.