November 2025 Lecture – Anthony Murphy (Mythical Ireland) – Prehistoric Astronomy In Ireland

Ballyclare High School Lecture Theatre

31 Rashee Rd
Ballyclare
Co. Antrim
BT39 9HJ

For our November Lecture, we are very pleased to have Anthony Murphy from Mythical Ireland along to give us a talk titled ‘Prehistoric Astronomy In Ireland’. This talk will take place in our usual venue of Ballyclare High School Lecture Theatre on Monday 3rd November 2025, starting at 8pm sharp.

About the talk:

Anthony will present a talk about the ancient astronomers of Ireland. Newgrange is the most famous prehistoric monument in Ireland, and is world famous for its winter solstice sunrise alignment, during which the light of the rising sun enters the dark interior of the chamber and illuminates it for 17 minutes. While much emphasis has been placed on sun-worship of the Neolithic people, was their astronomy more complex than once-yearly alignments to the midwinter sunrise?

 
In this presentation, Anthony will show how Newgrange is just one of a number of megalithic structures with astronomical alignments. He will speak about how folklore and mythology may also describe some of the astronomical aspects of these 5,000-year-old monuments.

About Anthony Murphy:

Anthony Murphy is an author, journalist, photographer, tour guide and amateur astronomer from Drogheda, County Louth. He has been studying the ancient myths and monuments of Ireland, and their associated astronomical alignments, for 26 years. He is the author of ten books on these subjects, the best-known of which are Island of the Setting Sun: In Search of Ireland’s Ancient Astronomers, and Mythical Ireland: New Light on the Ancient Past. He has appeared as an expert on ancient Ireland on The History Channel, National Geographic, Discovery Science, Channel 4, BBC, RTÉ and TG4, and has written extensively for many publications. In 2018, he discovered a Late Neolithic prehistoric ceremonial enclosure or henge close to Newgrange using a drone.
 
He is married to Ann and they have five children.

It’s great to have Anthony back with us again at the NIAAS. He was last with us in 2013, so his return is well overdue. As you can see Anthony has published a lot of books and I’m pleased to say, he’ll have some of these along with him for sale on the night.

Look forward to seeing you there and catching up with refreshments after the meeting.

Duration

1 hr

Entrance Fee

Free
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