Oh No! Giant Minion Invades Ireland! Is This For Real?

On an Irish highway, a 30-foot inflatable Minion balloon was spotted. Fortunately, there were no reports of any people injured because of the loose giant character.

Vulture.com reported that the giant Minion balloon was set up to promote a local fair but was shaken loose from its moorings due to the strong summer wind. The balloon moved across Swords Road outside Dublin in the afternoon of August 3, 2015. There were no reported injuries caused by the Minion.

“I don’t want to sound like a killjoy, but if that had landed on a cyclist, for instance, it could have been serious,” Paul McAuliffe, a councilor of Dublin City, told the Irish Times. “If you take the Minion part of it out, if this was a large inflatable weather balloon that had not been properly tethered, there would be no [humor] in this story at all."

McAuliffe requested the planning department of Dublin to investigate whether the fair violated any safety regulations and asked whether appropriate health and safety measures were on hand.

Based on the same Irish Times report, McAuliffe said that he was concerned about the possible serious consequences that could have resulted if the large object was left to escape onto a busy main road. He said that Fairground events and festivals were essential in bringing in more tourists and people to the city villages, but even minor events have health and safety conditions. He requested the Council to provide him with a report on the Minion incident and for council officials to interview the operators of the fairground.

TIME wrote that the big balloon blocked a road and caused some traffic confusion, but no one was hurt. One local resident shared that people seemed to have had some fun from the incident.

The Minion is among the popular characters from the “Despicable Me” movie franchise. A new movie “Minions” have recently been released in 2015. Rotten Tomatoes stated that the movie was directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda and produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment. Sandra Bullock also voice acted in the film. The plot revolved around the Minions seeking for a new master to serve, and then later on, trying to save their kind for total annihilation.

Social media users also shared various photos of the giant Minion roaming along trucks and cars on the Irish highway.

More details and updates on the giant character and possible fairground violations are expected in a few days.