There is very little evidence to be found anywhere in Ireland for the dinosaurs which undoubtedly roamed our land during the Jurassic period.

Most of the rocks we have from this period were deposited at sea, so the only chance of finding dinosaurs are among those ones that died and drifted out to sea before sinking.

Those rocks from 230-200 million years ago which were deposited on land were exposed to a baking, semi-arid climate; this may have been fine for for dinosaurs to live in but would not have been conducive to preserving bones.

The exceptions are two fragments of bone from 200 million years ago found among old marine mudstones in Co. Antrim; one from a herbivore and one from a carnivore.

However, here at Minnis and generally along the Antrim coast is the best place to find the fossilised remains of other creatures from the Jurassic era.

Minnis North is actually a very rich fossil site and every year produces many fossils, including occasional isolated bones and teeth of ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs.

These were different types of giant marine reptile and their remains would have been scattered across the sea floor by currents or scavengers after the animal had died and decayed.

This ichthyosaur is sometimes referred to as the ‘Larne Sea Dragon’ or more frequently, the ‘Minnis Monster’.

These remains are usually discovered after a mudslide is washed down the hill by heavy rains.

To prevent the coast road being blocked, the local council digs the clay out from the foot of the mudslide and dumps it on the beach.

And it is here the sea washes out the fossils from the clay.