Exclusive
PEAK-A-BOO
Incredible ‘mountain ghost’ caught on film lurking at the top of Irish mountain
Matt Loughrey, who captured the spooky video, said it's only the second time he's seen the creepy effect in a decade of climbing
AN INCREDIBLY eerie 'mountain ghost' has been caught on film at the top of an Irish mountain.
The rare phenomenon, known as a Brocken Bow, was captured at the summit of Croagh Patrick in County Mayo by climber Matt Loughrey.
3
An extremely rare occurrence, the phantom is sometimes called the Mountain Spectre or Mountain Ghost.
It requires a perfect balance of low cloud and altitude with a sun position behind the viewer for it to appear.
Matt, who has been climbing for around a decade, has seen the amazing spectacle just twice - and this time managed to capture it on camera.
He said: "The recent Brocken Bow event took place at the beginning of November.
3
3
"It was particularly still on the ridge before the summit and all took place mid-morning.
"The event lasted a good hour before the conditions changed and it vanished."
The sun shining from behind the observer projects a shadow on the clouds behind them, creating a creepy figure in the distance.
A rainbow coloured ring will also appear alongside the ghostly shadow caused by light coming through the cloud's water droplets.
The sighting is more commonly called Brocken Bow or mountain spectre and was thought in the past to be a supernatural creature.
MOST READ IN SCIENCE
First reports of the bizarre effect came from Germany's Brocken Mountain in the Harz Mountains region, hence the name.
Brocken Bows have been reported all over the UK throughout the years, with the mountainous regions of Kerry and Waterford known to host the phenomenon.
Earlier this year, a British heatwave caused a rare natural phenomenon - glowing water.
Kildare farmer captures incredible whirlwind video in a field known as a 'si gaoithe' in traditional Ireland
Topics