$50 oil brings exploration surge to Irish shores

Millions of visitors come to Ireland every year looking for the “black stuff” but now, with oil prices above $50 a barrel, an increasing number are exploring for more than just Guinness.

Irish oil men report a surge of interest in drilling for oil and gas in the waters off Ireland’s south and west coasts but some fear this may only be a window of opportunity that will close if, as analysts expect, oil prices fall.