HOLY SHOW
Hilarious moment TV news crew films report about 6ft ‘meteor’ crater with expert – but it was just a hole dug by pals
THIS is the hilarious moment a TV news crew filmed a report about a possible 6ft meteor crater crash site - but it was just a hole dug by pals at the beach.
The discovery was made on Portmarnock Beach in north Co Dublin this week, prompting Virgin Media News to report on what was suspected to be a space-born phenomenon.
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The hole “could be the aftermath of a cosmic event”, Colette Fitzpatrick said in an intro to the report on Virgin Media News, on Wednesday evening.
Reporter Hannah Murphy then described it as a “huge, mysterious crater that looks out of this world”.
The news team brought in “local astrophysics enthusiast” David Kennedy, who said a “scorch mark” on a small but heavy rock found within the hole showed “the angle that it came down at”.
He said: “It is weighty; I’m not sure of its composition, but we’re definitely going to have to find out.”
He added that he had recently watched a “documentary from NASA on exactly what you’re looking at”.
David claimed the “uniform” hole and “blast crater” let him know immediately that he was looking at an “impact site”.
The report made clear there was “no confirmation that this was the site of a meteor strike”.
'CAUSED A STIR'
A social media post by Virgin Media News said the incident had however “caused a stir” in the area.
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Passersby were recorded taking photos beside the hole, while one woman posted pictures on a community page saying “many people had walked past the crater not realising what it was”.
She said: “There are also smaller holes around it.
"Some are holes from kids digging so it’s difficult to tell which ones where created by splinter meteorites.”
On the pictures, one of which shows her holding the ‘meteorite’ rock, she added: “The universe delivered. (The heat is a bit baffling as I read that meteorites are cold).”
However, an Instagram video shared widely today shows the hole being dug out by a man with a bright green children’s beach shovel.
Posted by Charlie Wallace, it is captioned: “The hole we dug on Saturday - watch the next slide.”
The video goes on to show the Virgin Media News report.
Charlie later adds “made the news I guess” with a facepalm emoji.
Another pal, Chris Flood, posted: “Never trust the news.”
Another friend, Luke O’Connor, posted: “Your man thought it was bring your own rock to work day.”
'HAD ME IN TEARS'
Comedian David O’Doherty, sharing the video, posted on X, formerly Twitter: “NOBEL PRIZE FOR DAVE KENNEDY.”
One tweet sharing the video, which had 1.5 million views, said: “Lads I’m in bits. Virgin Media News is after reporting on a hole on Portmarnock Beach that ‘could be the aftermath of a cosmic event’.
“Some fellas literally dug it the day before with a kid’s shovel.
“The way your man was talking about the rock being an asteroid had me in tears.”
But in a Facebook post, enthusiast David said the stone is “going for testing with physicists on Monday”.
The Dublin man tweeted a request to physicist Professor Brian Cox asking for his “insight where to have this analysed”.
He added: “Its density must be huge, it’s really heavy.”
David also tagged American space agency NASA in another post, saying: “I have the meteorite!! Huge Density!!! Love to explore it!!!!!!!!!!”
On the social media video of the hole being dug, he added: “Unfortunate to try discredit one of the best astrology finds in Ireland.
“That being said, once it’s carbon dated next week we will have complete confirmation.
“End of the day, science will tell next week!”
Dave later commented: “So from pictures on social media looks like the hole was man made, that being said the rock is still very interesting.
“Most likely washed ashore, professor of geology in Trinity wants to have a look so hoping that will be today or tomorrow.
“I’ll let you all know the results, at the end of the day we will have a scientific conclusion.”
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Virgin Media today reported that the “mystery” had “apparently been solved”, adding that David Kennedy was “disappointed” but was still getting the rock analysed.
Reporter Hannah added: “Not the outcome Dave had hoped for but at least it’s given people a laugh all the same!”
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