 Hydrocarbon exploration is ongoing following the first major find at the Kinsale Head gas field off Cork in the mid @-@ 1970s . In 1999 , economically significant finds of natural gas were made in the Corrib Gas Field off the County Mayo coast . This has increased activity off the west coast in parallel with the " West of Shetland " step @-@ out development from the North Sea hydrocarbon province . The Helvick oil field , estimated to contain over 28 million barrels ( 4 @,@ 500 @,@ 000 m3 ) of oil , is another recent discovery . 
 Hydrocarbon exploration <a href='drop_aux' title='1'><mark>is</mark></a>ongoing following the first major find at the Kinsale Head gas field off Cork in the mid @-@ 1970s . In 1999 , economically significant finds of natural gas <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> made in the Corrib Gas Field off the County Mayo coast . This <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>has</mark></a> increased activity off the west coast in parallel with the " West of Shetland " step @-@ out development from the North Sea hydrocarbon province . The Helvick oil field , estimated to contain over 28 million barrels ( 4 @,@ 500 @,@ 000 m3 ) of oil , <a href='drop_aux' title='4'><mark>is</mark></a>another recent discovery . 
Hydrocarbon exploration ongoing following the first major find at da Kinsale Head gas field offf Cork in the mid @-@ 1970s . In 1999 , economically significant finds of natural gas was made in the Corrib Gas Field off tdaCounty Mayo coast . This done increased activity off the west coast in parallel w/ thda West of Shetland " step @-@ out development from the North Sea hydrocarbon province . Thedalvick oil field , estimated to contain ova 28 million barrels ( 4 @,@ 500 @,@ 000 m3 ) of oil , another recent discovery .