Mysterious Sea Creature Sighting
Off the coast of Baltimore, in the rugged waters of County Cork, Ireland, a bizarre encounter took place on July 30, 1915. Commander Freiherr George G von Forstner of the German U-boat U-28 claimed that after torpedoing the steamer Iberian, the ship sank and exploded, throwing a massive, unidentified creature out of the sea. The creature was described as a sixty-foot-long crocodile-like beast with four large webbed feet, a long pointed tail, and a pointed head. This extraordinary sighting has remained a fascinating footnote in the annals of cryptozoology.
The events of that fateful day were well-documented. On July 30, 1915, U-28, under the command of Freiherr George G von Forstner, torpedoed and sank the British steamer Iberian, approximately 17 km southwest of Fastnet Rock. The sinking was followed by a massive explosion, and it was during this chaotic moment that the crew of U-28 reported seeing the enormous creature. Although the creature was not seen again, the account from Commander Forstner and his crew remains one of the most intriguing sea monster sightings in history.
World War I maritime history
Location
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Nearby Haunted Places
The Edge of Fate Cliff
Cliff near old copper mine, Allihies
Perched on the rugged Beara Peninsula, the windswept cliff near the old copper mine in Allihies has a haunting reputation. Locals believe that a man who fell to his death here in the mid-1850s has left behind a restless spirit. The story goes that after working a late shift at the mine, the unfortunate soul took a shortcut across the hill, became disoriented, and tumbled over the edge to his demise. Since then, travellers crossing the hill have paused to throw a stone over the cliff's edge, a ritual thought to ward off a similar fatal accident.
The Leprechaun's Lost Shoe
Field in the area, Ardrah
In a rural field near the village of Ardrah, a mysterious discovery was made by a local cow herder. He stumbled upon a small shoe, said to belong to a leprechaun, but unfortunately, he left it behind, only to find it gone the next day. The story of the leprechaun's shoe has been passed down, leaving many to wonder if the mythical creature's mischievous nature was at play. Was it a prank gone wrong or a genuine paranormal occurrence? The truth remains a mystery.
Green Phantom Cat Balbriggan
Exact location not known, Balbriggan
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Back Breaking Lady
, Ballinagree
In the quaint Irish village of Ballinagree, a spine-tingling legend has been etched into local folklore. This eerie tale revolves around a ghostly apparition known as the Back Breaking Lady, who is said to haunt the rural roads leading to the village. According to the haunting account, the phantom, described as a white lady, would suddenly appear and leap onto the back of unsuspecting horsemen, viciously beating them with her fists. One poor rider, unable to shake the ghostly entity off his back, galloped home in a state of panic, only for the phantom to vanish as he reached his driveway. However, his terrifying encounter came at a terrible cost, as he awoke the next morning paralysed, a condition that tragically persisted until his death a few months later.
Beiceacan
, Ballinagree
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Vanishing Island
, Ballinaleame
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