A small earthquake has been confirmed in County Donegal

A small earthquake has been confirmed in County Donegal, Ireland, after a teacher at St Columba's College in Stranorlar detected seismic activity on the school's equipment. Brendan O'Donoghue, a physics teacher, is part of the Seismology in Schools project, which has tracked over 1,000 tremors since joining the scheme almost 15 years ago.

County Donegal is an area of high seismic activity due to its geology, and the school's equipment frequently records tremors that often go unnoticed by the public. However, this recent tremor was significant enough to be detected by both the school's equipment and permanent seismic stations operated by the Irish National Seismic Network (INSN) and Dublin Institute For Advanced Studies (DIAS).

According to O'Donoghue, the tremor was very small, with a magnitude of 1.1, and likely occurred within 10 kilometers of Ballybofey. While some people may have felt a slight shaking, it was not strong enough to cause any damage or widespread concern.

The INSN confirmed the earthquake, stating that two of its stations in Donegal, as well as stations in Antrim, Louth, and Mayo, registered the tremor. The event was also recorded on a Quake Shake seismometer located in St. Columba's Secondary School.

While earthquakes are not uncommon in County Donegal, more significant quakes are rare. The school's equipment often picks up larger quakes, as well as other seismic activity such as weapons testing and even sporting events.

The INSN is encouraging anyone who may have heard or felt the tremor to get in touch. This incident highlights the importance of seismic monitoring and the valuable role that schools can play in detecting and understanding seismic activity.

St Columba's College is one of the most successful schools in the Seismology in Schools project, and its equipment has detected numerous tremors over the years. The project aims to promote STEM education and engage students in hands-on learning about seismology and earthquakes.

In conclusion, the recent earthquake in County Donegal is a reminder of the region's seismic activity and the importance of monitoring and understanding earthquakes. The detection of the tremor by St Columba's College and the INSN highlights the valuable role that schools and seismic networks play in promoting STEM education and advancing our knowledge of seismic activity.