Statistically speaking there is likely be life in other parts of the universe. And if these life forms want to book a perfect date to visit earth, today would be the most suitable as it happens to be World UFO Day.

Ireland seems to get its fair share of otherwordly visitors if reported sightings are to be believed.

There were 68 sightings in 2011 according to figures by the Aerial Phenomena Research Association of Ireland, with at least one sighting per month except for February.

However last year was a bumper year for extraterrestrial tourism to Ireland with 99 reported sightings.

There is also an interesting geographical spread. UFO's don't like to pass over Louth, Armagh, Fermanagh, Monaghan or Offaly very much with no reported sightings in those counties in 2012.

Conversely Dublin is hugely popular with 21 sightings in 2012, although the data does not reveal if they are enticed by the spire, the Guinness Storehouse or scouting out the Viking Tour bus route.

The correlation between sightings and population size were clearer as Cork also had a high number of sightings with 12 in total, Kildare coming third with 10.

There were more sightings in the summer months, perhaps because the skies are clearer and certainly not because of the fabled Irish summer.

2013 has also seen sightings with 14 in total. Most are again clustered around Dublin with a few scattered across the country.

Check out the map below. 

Blue placemarks denote no sightings, green (1-3), yellow (4-6), red (7-10), indigo (12-20), magenta (20+). The UFO-esque shapes represent the locations of 2013 sightings. 

View Map of UFO sightings in Ireland 2012 in a larger map