This article is from page 1 of the 2013-01-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 1 JPG
EAST Clare has been identified as one of Ireland’s hotspots for UFOs (unidentified flying objects) with four separate sightings recorded in 2012.
According to new figures released by the Aerial Phenomena Research Association of Ireland (APRAI) there were two separate sightings in the O’Briensbridge area, one in O’Callaghan’s Mills and a fourth just over the Tipperary border in Cragg last year.
With further sightings in Loop Head and on Aughinish Island in North Clare, the Banner County was identified as one of Ireland’s busiest counties for UFO activity in 2012 after Dublin, Cork and Kildare.
The first two recorded UFO sightings of last year took place in O’Briensbridge on January 7 and February 6, with a third sighting recorded at Kilbaha North, close to Loop Head, on March 3.
A fourth sighting was recorded on Aughinish in North Clare on May 29 with the final sighting recorded at Killuran, just off the R465 in O’Callaghan’s Mills on July 24.
A spokesperson from the APRAI declined to give any specific information on the nature of the Clare sightings or to identify who reported the incidents.
According the the founder of the UFO Society of Ireland, the late Betty Meyler, the Burren landscape has an effect on UFO activity.
Speaking to The Clare People shortly before her death in 2010, Ms Meyler said that the unique geographic landscape of the Burren seemed to attract UFOs.
A short video of Clare’s most famous UFO, recorded in sky in the Inagh area in March 2009, has been viewed almost 20,000 times on Youtube.