BREAKING NEWS ….. Croghan Hill in County Offaly has erupted

Paul McRingo | Midlands Correspondent

Croghan Hill in Co. Offaly has erupted within the last hour and lava has been seen flowing rapidly towards several local villages. Fears are growing for the densely populated metropolis of Tullamore which is just 15 miles away.

Croghan Hill is the remains of an “extinct” volcano that rises from the Bog of Allen and dominates the surrounding landscape. Records show the last time it erupted was in 1773 when over 200 people and 8 million sheep perished.

Local conspiracy theorists are claiming the eruption is the result of chemtrails, 5G masts, wind turbines, the COVID vaccine and the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Offaly County Councillor Barney Fitzmaurice told local radio station Midlands 103 that panic has broken out across the county.

“Extinct me hole!” said Barney. “As I speak, boiling hot lava is heading straight for Portarlington. It’s only 5 miles away so it’s just a matter of time. Okay so Portarlington would be no great loss but for God’s sake we must save Tullamore. A world without the Bridge House and Galvin’s Menswear doesn’t bear thinking about.”

People are being warned to avoid the area. We’ll have more on this breaking news as it happens.