Inishowen in north Donegal was hit by an "earthquake swarm" last week. The scenic peninsula experienced a minor tremor on Tuesday evening followed by another early the following morning, according to reports from the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies.

The micro-earthquakes measured 1.5 and 1.7 on the Richter scale and though minor occurrences, it is believed several people in the area fled their houses before it quickly became clear that there was no immediate danger.

Animals behaved erratically during the tremors, which were accompanied by a loud bang similar to thunderclap. In a first for the country, the tremors were recorded by a seismometer, which measures the magnitude of earthquakes, which is located in St Egney's national school in nearby Desertegney.

This is part of the institute's 'Seismology in Schools Programme' in which seismometers are placed in schools in order to generate pupils' interest in science.

"We have equipment in over 50 schools but this is the first time we have received such an accurate reading from a school," said Tom Blake of the institute.

The same area just south of Buncrana near Burnfoot suffered another earthquake three weeks ago on Thursday 7 January, this time measuring 1.6 on the Richter scale.

"The area south of Buncrana is on a major fault line which stretches from Scotland all the way across to the area around Lough Swilly," explained Blake.

The south east of the country around Wexford is on another fault line which has also had a few tremors in the past, he said.

He added also that it is not unusual for earthquakes to be clustered around the same time. But Blake assured north Donegal residents that there was never any possibility of any structural damage to property from an earthquake measuring 1.5.

On top of the schools programme, the institute also asks people living close to a tremor to fill out an online survey. "We have had a very large response from north Donegal over the last few weeks," said Blake.

According to Lee Tedstone, Fine Gael councillor and mayor of Buncrana, "it was very unusual but we are happy that Tom Blake and the institute are keeping an eye on it"