Either there’s a load of aliens hovering above Ireland or we’ve suddenly become very paranoid. In any case, the number of UFO sightings has increased by nearly 70 per cent in the last three years.
That’s according to the UFO Research Association of Ireland (Yes, it’s the first time we’ve ever heard of them too), who have revealed that there were 59 sightings in Ireland in 2011, compared with 42 in 2010 and a paltry-by-comparison 35 in 2009.
Plenty of UFO sightings can be attributed to ball lightings or Chinese lanterns, but the UFO Research Association is interested in sightings that defy conventional reason.
“I would like to believe that there is life out in the universe somewhere, whether it’s walking or talking beings or microscopic bacteria I don’t know,” association founder Adam Tallon is quoted as saying in the Irish Independent.
The UFO Research Association has been on the go since 2005, but has been known by its current name ever since 2008, when it started to keep track of reported incidents.
Tallon believes that the presence of an association like his is accountable for the increase in sightings as well as the fact that anonymity is ensured. People don’t want to be known as raving lunatics after all.
“There is a slow but gradual increase in incidents being reported which I would attribute to two things,” Mr Tallon said.
“The first that there wasn’t really any place to report incidents prior to our organisation and secondly I would attribute the increase to people being more comfortable reporting an incident compared to say 10 years ago.”
Tallon’s revelations come only a couple a months after a strange object was filmed in the skies above Ireland (unfortunately the video has since been suspiciously removed). Turns out we might not be alone after all.
