A recent discovery of a potential meteorite on Portmarnock beach has been debunked in rather unexpected fashion, after grabbing attention through a Virgin Media News report.
The Irish TV station reported live from the beach in North County Dublin on Wednesday, interviewing a local astronomy enthusiast who believed he had discovered the site of a meteorite's crash landing on Irish soil.
An unusual rock had been found in a large crater on the beach, leading him to believe that the object had fallen from the sky - however, a rather unfortunate revelation of earlier social media footage has sadly proven him wrong.
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Portmarnock "meteor" turns out to be a hoax
Virgin Media's news report from Portmarnock beach on Wednesday included interviews with local residents and tourists, after the apparent discovery of something otherworldly on the strand.
#WATCH A mysterious hole on a beach has caused a stir in North Dublin.
A local astronomy enthusiast is hoping the crater in Portmarnock, could be the aftermath of a cosmic event. @Hanelizaa reports ⤵️#VMNews pic.twitter.com/cGJiyd3eZj— Virgin Media News (@VirginMediaNews) September 13, 2023
Local 'astrophysics enthusiast' Dave Kennedy argued that a rock found in a large hole on the beach could have been a meteorite, basing his findings on "scorch marks" he observed on one side, and the abnormally heavy weight of the rock. He went on to back up his findings by referencing a NASA documentary he had recently watched.
@NASA I have the meteorite!! Huge Density!!! Love to explore it!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/OBjgo64iaA
— dave kennedy (@eiredaithi24) September 12, 2023
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Tourists from places as far flung as Nova Scotia could be seen admiring the crater surrounding where the rock had been found, in amazement at what they believed was a "once in a lifetime cosmic event."
Their hopes have sadly been dashed.
Footage has since emerged and gone viral on Twitter of a group of men digging a hole on Portmarnock Beach during Saturday afternoon's sunshine, mere days before the 'discovery' of the rock and crater by a local resident.
🚨 Meteorite mystery solved! 🚨
The mystery of the hole on a north Dublin beach has apparently been solved - denting the hopes of a local space enthusiast, who had hoped it was the site of a meteor strike.#VMNews pic.twitter.com/zhqKbhzvNY— Virgin Media News (@VirginMediaNews) September 14, 2023
Virgin Media News shared the footage of the men digging the hole, and it now seems clear that the now seemingly Earthly rock merely found its way onto the beach by natural means.
Despite the revelation of the rock's true origin, the local astronomy enthusiast who made the "discovery" is said not to be deterred, with the latest news report suggesting that he is disappointed but determined to have the rock analysed, for hope of finding something of note about the intriguingly shaped object.
Naturally, the entire news cycle has captured the attention of the online public in both Ireland and beyond, for what can only be described as a bizarre misunderstanding.
The Portmarnock Meteorite reminds me of the time we found the remains of a mermaid on Ballybunion Beach @VirginMediaNews pic.twitter.com/wQdTggjEUe
— Jennifer Canesten (@JennferCanesten) September 14, 2023
I hope the meteorite happened to land in the already existing hole. Like a galaxy hole in one
— R ! C H (@richie_no_t) September 14, 2023
The Portmarnock beach hole is up on https://t.co/okMEz7L3ZY for €2,600 a month
— Minister for Spuds at the Dept of Bacon & Cabbage (@FCTwenteBenson) September 14, 2023
BREAKING
Taylor Swift has added a third and final Dublin date to her Eras tour in the Hole on Portmarnock Beach next June— Davey B (@Dave_B24) September 14, 2023
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