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Fig. 3.1 Two images showing the use of GIS spatial and topographic datasets to locate alandslide event3.6 General Analysis of Database EventsThe expansion of a database is always an ongoing process. Therefore any description or discussion of thedatabase contents can only be a snapshot in time. It is important to note at this point that the events discoveredin the Breifne area pilot susceptibility mapping project (Chapter 5.2) have not been entered into the databaseyet. Many hundreds of events were discovered in that pilot study and large numbers will no doubt be found inother upland areas when similar research studies are undertaken in the future.These will all be added to thedatabase in due course.There are 117 landslide events recorded in the database at this time (Fig. 3.2). The majority of these are fromhistorical published sources. There are also several more recent events which have been individually documented.In addition the results of a postgraduate project in Co. Wicklow have been included. This is described fully inChapter 8 – Landslide Research in Ireland. The types of event recorded will naturally reflect the data sourcesavailable.Of the total of 117 events, 100 are in the Republic of Ireland and 17 are in Northern Ireland. The events are listedin Appendix 5. Co. Wicklow has the most events with 14. Co. Mayo has 12, and Co. Antrim has 10. Thesereflect the upland blanket bog areas and also the serious instability along the edge of the basalt escarpment inCo. Antrim. After these come Co. Offaly with 8 events and Co. Limerick with 7 events. The following countieshave no events recorded as yet – Monaghan, Meath, Carlow, Wexford and Armagh. The remainder of thecounties have between 1 and 6 events each. The earliest event recorded is near Clogher, Co. Tyrone in 1488.There is little information available on this slippage of peat bog. The latest recorded is a topple in rock on theHillhead Road in Newry in March 2005.It was stated in the Introduction that Ireland has a relatively benign landscape in terms of geohazards. Irelandhas indeed been spared the major catastrophes that have occurred in other parts of Europe due to landslides.However there have been fatalities in Ireland. The worst was at Castlegarde bog near Cappamore, Co. Limerickin 1708 when 21 people died. In 1896 at Knocknageesha, Co. Kerry 8 people died. There were 2 fatalities in theOwenmore Valley, Co. Mayo in 1819 and at Ballaghline, near Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare in 1900. Fortunatelythere were no fatalities at the recent landslides at Pollatomish and Derrybrien.12