UCC Scientists involved in Major Discovery in the Atlantic

Irish research has led to the discovery of a volcanic landscape along the Mid- Atlantic Ridge, a vast underwater mountain range that extends almost the entire length of the ocean. 

The discovery team has named it Moytirra, after the great battle between the Fir Bolg and the Tuatha Dé Danann in Irish mythology. According to the channel, some of the study sites were so deep that the ROV — limited by its 3,000m tether to the ship — could investigate only chimney tops and cliff sides. "We really were pushing the machines we had to the edge," said marine biologist Patrick Collins of NUI Galway. "And that’s a credit to the ROV pilots — they pulled it off." 

The programme will be broadcast this Sunday at 6pm on the National Geographic channel on Sky (channel 526) and also UPC (channel 215).