THE 1755 LISBON EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI AND THE IMPACT ON THE COAST OF CORK.

The article examines the proposed impact of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and subsequent tsunami on the coast of Cork, Ireland, focusing on claims that the event caused extensive coastal reshaping and destruction. While some researchers, notably Robert Devoy, suggest that tsunami waves up to 40–45 meters high caused significant erosion and damage to settlements such as Cape Clear Island and Tralispean Bay, the article highlights the lack of corroborating historical, archaeological, cartographic, and oral evidence for such large-scale devastation. Surviving fragile medieval structures, detailed maps, and ships’ logs indicate only minor water disturbances rather than catastrophic damage, suggesting that the tsunami’s impact on the Cork coastline was far less severe than some accounts propose. The article concludes that the evidence for a major tsunami event reshaping the area remains speculative and requires alternative explanations beyond the 1755 Lisbon tsunami.