Via email:-

Panic gripped the streets of Galway this afternoon when patches of sky
took on a blue colour and a ball of fire appeared above the city.

The Lord Mayor urged people to be calm and return to work as normal
instead of stripping off their hats, scarves and jackets and heading
to a beer garden for the afternoon. "We've seen this sort of thing
before", he said, "but it never lasts."

There are forecasts that this phenomenon, commonly found in
mediterranean countries and known as the "sun" could be seen
throughout the weekend but a spokesman for the Met Office said "I
wouldn't hold my breath".