Tsunami is possible in Ireland
A scientist has said a tsunami hitting Ireland's coastline has happened before – and could happen again. By Madeline O'Connor - 11/11/09
Prof Mike Williams of NUI Galway said, “Yes we do have the potential for a tsunami because we have been hit in the past.”
He said there was no need to panic, however, as it would take a massive earthquake, an underwater landslide or an asteroid hitting the Atlantic before we would see one.
Prof Williams will deliver the talk, ‘Irish Tsunami – Myths and Dangers’ tonight at the Institute of Technology, Sligo as part of Science Week.
He developed an interest in tsunamis while trying to find out why so many big boulders like on the top of cliffs on Irish coasts.
“Clearly they had been tossed there by tsunami or storms. After extensive research he decided on an answer. Some were tossed out of the sea in 1839 on the so called “Night of the Big Wind”, he said.
“A huge earthquake in the Gulf of Cadiz off Portugal on November 1st, 1755, created a huge wave that pushed into the Atlantic. It rushed up Galway Bay to carry away people and knock down part of the Spanish Arch. The “Lisbon earthquake” had unexpected consequences”, Prof Williams said. “It persuaded the king of Portugal to live in a tent for the rest of his life.”
A similar happening would be the most likely cause of a tsunami in modern times, but it would be impossible to predict, he said.
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