A most extraordinary appearance – 1834

Trumpeter General 26th August, 1834 p.4

Across the hills
Photo: EO’D

On Monday night last, the country in this neighbourhood presented a most extraordinary appearance. About 9 o’clock an immense light suddenly appeared at a great distance to the southwest of Cork. In a few seconds after, another appeared in an opposite direction. The signal was rapidly answered, and in less than four minutes after the first appeared, we could, within that short period, count no less than 154 lights in the direction of the King’s County alone.
The signal was taken up and no less rapidly answered through the Counties of Westmeath, Longford, Roscommon, Galway and even in the distant hills of the Queen’s County, all of which were distinctly visible from Anchor’s Bower, a hill which overlooks the town. Although groups were assembled at several places through the town, gazing at the spectacle and giving their opinion on the subject, no one could say what the meaning of it was.