435-million-year-old fossil found by Irish geologist in Connemara confirmed as a new species

A 435 million-year-old starfish fossil discovered in Connemara, Co Galway by an Irish geologist, Dr Eamon Doyle, in the late 1980's, has now been confirmed as a new species and the oldest of its type in Ireland. Dr Doyle has been given the the honour of it being named after him. According to the latest issue of the Irish Journal of Earth Sciences, published by the Royal Irish Academy, it has been given the Latin name Crepidosoma Doyleii by international palaeontologists. 

This brittlestar is one of a species that evolved 500 million years ago and dates from the Silurian period, when continental landmasses were low and sea levels were rising. It was found  in Maam Valley, which is in North Connemara between Leenane to the west and Cor na Mona to the east. The specimen will go on display at the Museum of Natural History in Dublin.