Updated: 9.30am
The Irish Defence Forces have confirmed that they are monitoring naval activity off the coast of Donegal.
Serious questions continue to surround recent sightings of a submarine-like vessel off the west coast.
After two sightings of an unusual sub off Dooey/Narin on Saturday, another sighting was reported to Donegal Daily as recently as last night.
A man witnessed a dark black vessel in the water behind Gola Island in Gweedore at 9pm on Wednesday 31st August.
He said: “It was difficult to make out exactly as it was getting dark, but was totally black, had a flashing light that was on and then turned off.”
The witness said there was a smaller vessel nearby, which could be seen for a while and then moved off. The lights remained off.
A spokesperson from the Irish Defence Forces confirmed to Donegal Daily that: “The Irish Defence Forces are aware of this activity and are monitoring the situation.”
“However, Óglaigh na hÉireann does not comment on specific operational deployments.”
There is speculation that the mystery submarine seen at the weekend could be the U.S. Naval Forces USS Georgia. Ship spotters say the vessel visited the Faslane Royal Navy submarine base in Scotland on Saturday. The location is rarely publicised, but as of last week, USS Georgia (SSGN-729) was operating near the Faroe Islands in Denmark. The Ohio class nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine can strike over long distances.
The USS Georgia’s visit to Scotland was described as a routine visit as part of the United States’ ‘commitment to allies and partners in the region’.
Meanwhile, two U.S. carrier strike groups are known to be in the Mediterranean Sea as the Russian invasion of Ukraine has entered its seventh month.
Irish, UK and US forces are also monitoring a group of Russian warships near the south coast of Ireland. The group, comprising at least two warships and a naval tanker, were spotted off the coast of Cork, travelling in direction of the UK via the Irish sea. On Tuesday the vessels made a u-turn and headed south again after being reportedly shadowed by the Royal Navy.
Ireland’s defence forces said they were aware of the ships’ activity and “are monitoring the situation”.
