"Extraordinary 315-Million-Year-Old Giant Sponge Fossil Unearthed at Cliffs of Moher"

A new species of ancient fossil sponge, named Cyathophycus balori, estimated to be 315 million years old, has been discovered near the Cliffs of Moher in Co Clare, Ireland. This specimen, up to 50cm tall, is the largest known example of its kind and offers significant insights into sponge evolution and their survival in niche environments. The fossil's excellent preservation is considered highly unusual, as sponges typically disintegrate quickly after death. The discovery, made by Dr Eamon Doyle and further studied by Dr Joseph Botting and Dr Lucy Muir, has been published in the international geological journal Geobios.