Blog
Cormac Mac Art - the greatest of the High Kings...
There are estimated to have been almost 150 high kings of Tara, the seat of royal power in Ireland for centuries, spanning from prehistory into early historic and medieval times....
Cormac Mac Art - the greatest of the High Kings...
There are estimated to have been almost 150 high kings of Tara, the seat of royal power in Ireland for centuries, spanning from prehistory into early historic and medieval times....
Strange tracks revealed by storm in ancient bog...
Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland describes strange parallel ruts or grooves discovered by a local man in a probable ancient bog revealed by shifting sands after a recent storm at...
Strange tracks revealed by storm in ancient bog...
Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland describes strange parallel ruts or grooves discovered by a local man in a probable ancient bog revealed by shifting sands after a recent storm at...
A biographical tribute to an Irish archaeologis...
Brenda McMahon, daughter of the late P.J. Hartnett, the archaeologist who excavated the Fourknocks passage-tombs in the early 1950s, pens a biographical tribute to her father.
A biographical tribute to an Irish archaeologis...
Brenda McMahon, daughter of the late P.J. Hartnett, the archaeologist who excavated the Fourknocks passage-tombs in the early 1950s, pens a biographical tribute to her father.
Fascinating new revelations show that 90% of th...
Fascinating new revelations about the people buried at Fourknocks over 5,000 years ago include the fact that 90% of them were cremated, and two adult males had received but recovered...
Fascinating new revelations show that 90% of th...
Fascinating new revelations about the people buried at Fourknocks over 5,000 years ago include the fact that 90% of them were cremated, and two adult males had received but recovered...
Tribute: Jack Roberts – a true pioneer of Irish...
Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland pays tribute to his late friend, the author and megalithic astronomy pioneer Jack Roberts, who passed away in June 2024.
Tribute: Jack Roberts – a true pioneer of Irish...
Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland pays tribute to his late friend, the author and megalithic astronomy pioneer Jack Roberts, who passed away in June 2024.
Centuries before the Greeks, the Irish held the...
Centuries before the Greeks established their Olympic Games, Ireland had its own huge games event. In this article, I explore the traditions of the Tailteann Games, inaugurated to commemorate Tailtiu,...
Centuries before the Greeks, the Irish held the...
Centuries before the Greeks established their Olympic Games, Ireland had its own huge games event. In this article, I explore the traditions of the Tailteann Games, inaugurated to commemorate Tailtiu,...
A complex medieval farming landscape revealed b...
Anthony Murphy imaged a fascinating complex of probable early medieval ringforts and associated field systems at Littlegrange, Co. Louth, just north of the Brú na Bóinne complex and 1.6 miles...
A complex medieval farming landscape revealed b...
Anthony Murphy imaged a fascinating complex of probable early medieval ringforts and associated field systems at Littlegrange, Co. Louth, just north of the Brú na Bóinne complex and 1.6 miles...
I found a large hilltop enclosure in Meath with...
In this long-read blog post, Anthony Murphy discusses various possibilities as to what his newly discovered hilltop enclosure monument near Fourknocks might be.
I found a large hilltop enclosure in Meath with...
In this long-read blog post, Anthony Murphy discusses various possibilities as to what his newly discovered hilltop enclosure monument near Fourknocks might be.
MAJOR DISCOVERY: previously unrecorded henge-li...
MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT - 7th JULY 2024 POSSIBLE UNRECORDED HENGE DISCOVERED NEAR FOURKNOCKS DRONEHENGE 2? A copy of the Newgrange henge discovered in 2018? Almost six years since I discovered the huge...
MAJOR DISCOVERY: previously unrecorded henge-li...
MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT - 7th JULY 2024 POSSIBLE UNRECORDED HENGE DISCOVERED NEAR FOURKNOCKS DRONEHENGE 2? A copy of the Newgrange henge discovered in 2018? Almost six years since I discovered the huge...
Summer Solstice and the emotional effects of th...
Anthony Murphy reflects on the emotional and psychological effects of the turning of the year at Summer Solstice.
Summer Solstice and the emotional effects of th...
Anthony Murphy reflects on the emotional and psychological effects of the turning of the year at Summer Solstice.
Death of author and discoverer Jack Roberts
The death has taken place of author and archaeoastronomer Jack Roberts, who made an enormous contribution to our understanding of prehistoric astronomy and the stone circles and Sheela-na-gigs of Ireland.
Death of author and discoverer Jack Roberts
The death has taken place of author and archaeoastronomer Jack Roberts, who made an enormous contribution to our understanding of prehistoric astronomy and the stone circles and Sheela-na-gigs of Ireland.
Help get the first book about Fourknocks published
Please help contribute towards the costs of publishing the first ever full-colour book about the fascinating and extraordinary Neolithic monument of Fourknocks.
Help get the first book about Fourknocks published
Please help contribute towards the costs of publishing the first ever full-colour book about the fascinating and extraordinary Neolithic monument of Fourknocks.
Photographing the most amazing display of north...
The display of aurora borealis (northern lights) over Ireland on Friday night was the best one seen from these parts in twenty years. Although aurora is not a rare phenomenon at...
Photographing the most amazing display of north...
The display of aurora borealis (northern lights) over Ireland on Friday night was the best one seen from these parts in twenty years. Although aurora is not a rare phenomenon at...
The lighting of the sacred Bealtaine fire at Ui...
Anthony Murphy shares some images from the lighting of the great sacred Bealtaine fire at the fire festival on the ancient Hill of Uisneach, County Westmeath.
The lighting of the sacred Bealtaine fire at Ui...
Anthony Murphy shares some images from the lighting of the great sacred Bealtaine fire at the fire festival on the ancient Hill of Uisneach, County Westmeath.
A new film about ancient Loughcrew
A new short film about the Loughcrew cairns in County Meath, made by Mythical Ireland in conjunction with filmmaker Grant Wakefield and musician Andrew Heath, will be premiered on the...
A new film about ancient Loughcrew
A new short film about the Loughcrew cairns in County Meath, made by Mythical Ireland in conjunction with filmmaker Grant Wakefield and musician Andrew Heath, will be premiered on the...
When will it ever end? Vandals strike again at ...
Another incident of vandalism at a prehistoric Irish monument, this time at Cairn S at Slieve na Calliagh, Loughcrew, County Meath, is just the latest in a concerning trend in...
When will it ever end? Vandals strike again at ...
Another incident of vandalism at a prehistoric Irish monument, this time at Cairn S at Slieve na Calliagh, Loughcrew, County Meath, is just the latest in a concerning trend in...
Dronehenge, Great Palisade, Four Poster, LP2 he...
A complex of subsurface monuments first discovered during a drought in 2018 has reappeared in crop marks at Newgrange Farm, part of the Brú na Bóinne complex close to Newgrange.
Dronehenge, Great Palisade, Four Poster, LP2 he...
A complex of subsurface monuments first discovered during a drought in 2018 has reappeared in crop marks at Newgrange Farm, part of the Brú na Bóinne complex close to Newgrange.
Brigid and Patrick - exploring the stories of t...
Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland is interviewed by Amy Panetta MA for The Celtic Feminine Podcast on spring equinox. They discussed the history and mythology assicated with Saint Brigid and...
Brigid and Patrick - exploring the stories of t...
Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland is interviewed by Amy Panetta MA for The Celtic Feminine Podcast on spring equinox. They discussed the history and mythology assicated with Saint Brigid and...
This cannot be the future of monument protectio...
This cannot be the future of heritage conservation and protection in Ireland. We must now sound the alarm about how poorly looked-after some of Ireland’s most ancient and most precious...
This cannot be the future of monument protectio...
This cannot be the future of heritage conservation and protection in Ireland. We must now sound the alarm about how poorly looked-after some of Ireland’s most ancient and most precious...
After 24 years, Mythical Ireland finally has a ...
For the first time in its 24-year history, Mythical Ireland now has an official logo. The logo is based upon the principal motifs of megalithic art on kerb stone 67...
After 24 years, Mythical Ireland finally has a ...
For the first time in its 24-year history, Mythical Ireland now has an official logo. The logo is based upon the principal motifs of megalithic art on kerb stone 67...
New podcast interview with Gerry Scullion - exp...
Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland was interviewed by Gerry Scullion of The Human Centered Design Network about the work of Mythical Ireland and the discoveries of the past 25 years.
New podcast interview with Gerry Scullion - exp...
Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland was interviewed by Gerry Scullion of The Human Centered Design Network about the work of Mythical Ireland and the discoveries of the past 25 years.
A remarkable ringfort in Roscommon where 650 in...
A new memorial has been created in Roscommon to commemorate the people of a lost ringfort settlement at Ranelagh, where over 650 human skeletons were found representing settlement over a...
A remarkable ringfort in Roscommon where 650 in...
A new memorial has been created in Roscommon to commemorate the people of a lost ringfort settlement at Ranelagh, where over 650 human skeletons were found representing settlement over a...
'You're always on shaky ground with St. Patrick...
Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland tells RTÉ's Philip Boucher-Hayes that we must use caution when dealing with the details of St. Patrick's journeys in Ireland, as much of the material...
'You're always on shaky ground with St. Patrick...
Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland tells RTÉ's Philip Boucher-Hayes that we must use caution when dealing with the details of St. Patrick's journeys in Ireland, as much of the material...
Mythical Ireland celebrates 24th birthday with ...
The Mythical Ireland website celebrates its 24th birthday on Saturday 16th March! To celebrate, we are launching a special ‘Three for Two’ offer on limited edition Mythical Ireland prints –...
Mythical Ireland celebrates 24th birthday with ...
The Mythical Ireland website celebrates its 24th birthday on Saturday 16th March! To celebrate, we are launching a special ‘Three for Two’ offer on limited edition Mythical Ireland prints –...
Manchán Magan explores the stories associated w...
TV presenter Manchán Magan will explore the myths, legends and rituals associated with Ireland's sacred and holy wells in a new six-part television series to be broadcast on TG4 beginning...
Manchán Magan explores the stories associated w...
TV presenter Manchán Magan will explore the myths, legends and rituals associated with Ireland's sacred and holy wells in a new six-part television series to be broadcast on TG4 beginning...
Gigantic Neolithic enclosure discovered around ...
A gigantic 250-metre-wide Middle Neolithic enclosure dating to around 5,500 years ago has been discovered by archaeologists around Faughan Hill in County Meath, the reputed burial place of the much...
Gigantic Neolithic enclosure discovered around ...
A gigantic 250-metre-wide Middle Neolithic enclosure dating to around 5,500 years ago has been discovered by archaeologists around Faughan Hill in County Meath, the reputed burial place of the much...
Newgrange Farm Archaeological Park and Newgrang...
Mythical Ireland and Newgrange Farm are delighted to announce the return of the Newgrange Farm Archaeological Park and Newgrange Chamber tours for 2024. Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland, who discovered...
Newgrange Farm Archaeological Park and Newgrang...
Mythical Ireland and Newgrange Farm are delighted to announce the return of the Newgrange Farm Archaeological Park and Newgrange Chamber tours for 2024. Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland, who discovered...
The complex ringfort of Summerbank, Loughcrew
Anthony Murphy spots some unusual features in proximity to a complex ringfort and enclosure at Drumsawry (Summerbank), Loughcrew, County Meath, in his drone images of the monument.
The complex ringfort of Summerbank, Loughcrew
Anthony Murphy spots some unusual features in proximity to a complex ringfort and enclosure at Drumsawry (Summerbank), Loughcrew, County Meath, in his drone images of the monument.
25 years ago: the day a conversation with artis...
Twenty-five years ago this week, Richard Moore stepped into the reception office of the Drogheda Independent newspaper, where I worked, and asked to speak with me. It was a meeting...
25 years ago: the day a conversation with artis...
Twenty-five years ago this week, Richard Moore stepped into the reception office of the Drogheda Independent newspaper, where I worked, and asked to speak with me. It was a meeting...
Obituary: Martin V. Brennan, author, artist, me...
Martin Vincent Brennan, ‘Morsheen’, was born of Irish parents from Roscommon and Galway on 16th June 1942 in Brooklyn, New York. The family lived close to the library, Natural Museum...
Obituary: Martin V. Brennan, author, artist, me...
Martin Vincent Brennan, ‘Morsheen’, was born of Irish parents from Roscommon and Galway on 16th June 1942 in Brooklyn, New York. The family lived close to the library, Natural Museum...
Listen to the Land Speak: A Mythical Ireland li...
This YouTube video premieres St. Stephen's Day, 26th December 2023, at 8pm Irish time (3pm Eastern, 12 noon Pacific). I was delighted to have been invited to host a live...
Listen to the Land Speak: A Mythical Ireland li...
This YouTube video premieres St. Stephen's Day, 26th December 2023, at 8pm Irish time (3pm Eastern, 12 noon Pacific). I was delighted to have been invited to host a live...
Sitting in a beam of light in Newgrange
We entered the chamber, a small group, the last of the morning's visitors on the last public day of solstice at Newgrange. I am fortunate, blessed, honoured and privileged to...
Sitting in a beam of light in Newgrange
We entered the chamber, a small group, the last of the morning's visitors on the last public day of solstice at Newgrange. I am fortunate, blessed, honoured and privileged to...
Irish television documentary finds evidence for...
A team of experts has found evidence for a second chamber inside the vast cairn of the Neolithic monument of Newgrange. A TV documentary, Rún na Bóinne, on irish channel TG4, follows...
Irish television documentary finds evidence for...
A team of experts has found evidence for a second chamber inside the vast cairn of the Neolithic monument of Newgrange. A TV documentary, Rún na Bóinne, on irish channel TG4, follows...
Kerb stone 67 and the master carvers of Newgrange
Kerbs stone 67 (K67) at Newgrange is one of just a few stones at the 5,200-year-old monument decorated with a particular flamboyance, stones that stand out from all the others....
Kerb stone 67 and the master carvers of Newgrange
Kerbs stone 67 (K67) at Newgrange is one of just a few stones at the 5,200-year-old monument decorated with a particular flamboyance, stones that stand out from all the others....
Kerb stone 52 at Newgrange is a sublime work of...
Kerb stone 52 (K52) at the 5,200-year-old Neolithic monument of Newgrange is one of the finest pieces of art from the Stone Age, and is one of the few decorated...
Kerb stone 52 at Newgrange is a sublime work of...
Kerb stone 52 (K52) at the 5,200-year-old Neolithic monument of Newgrange is one of the finest pieces of art from the Stone Age, and is one of the few decorated...
An intimate portrait of the chamber of Newgrange
Anthony Murphy shares some beautiful photographs of the light beam in the chamber of the 5,200-year-old Newgrange monument.
An intimate portrait of the chamber of Newgrange
Anthony Murphy shares some beautiful photographs of the light beam in the chamber of the 5,200-year-old Newgrange monument.
Dowth Hall: When there are two passage-tombs in...
In 2018, a passage-tomb was found under Dowth Hall at Brú na Bóinne. This shouldn't have been a major shock as the house already had two passage-tombs in its back...
Dowth Hall: When there are two passage-tombs in...
In 2018, a passage-tomb was found under Dowth Hall at Brú na Bóinne. This shouldn't have been a major shock as the house already had two passage-tombs in its back...
The Newgrange folly - made from Newgrange stone...
I recently shared two photos of the interior of a stone building and asked if any of you knew what it was. There were lots of good guesses, and a...
The Newgrange folly - made from Newgrange stone...
I recently shared two photos of the interior of a stone building and asked if any of you knew what it was. There were lots of good guesses, and a...
Drombeg Stone Circle in Co. Cork
Drombeg Stone Circle, located not far from the village of Rosscarbery in County Cork, is probably the best-known of the Cork-Kerry group of so-called Recumbent Stone Circles, and has one of the...
Drombeg Stone Circle in Co. Cork
Drombeg Stone Circle, located not far from the village of Rosscarbery in County Cork, is probably the best-known of the Cork-Kerry group of so-called Recumbent Stone Circles, and has one of the...
The changing appearance of Tomb 51 - Listoghil ...
Tomb 51 at the Carrowmore megalithic cemetery in Co. Sligo, known as Listoghil, was extensively reconstructed after excavations. It looks a LOT different these days, as shown in these aerial/satellite...
The changing appearance of Tomb 51 - Listoghil ...
Tomb 51 at the Carrowmore megalithic cemetery in Co. Sligo, known as Listoghil, was extensively reconstructed after excavations. It looks a LOT different these days, as shown in these aerial/satellite...
Old aerial photographs of the Fourknocks monume...
Leo Swan was a very well-known Irish archaeologist who was one of the pioneers of aerial remote sensing. Long before the era of drones, Leo made many flights as a...
Old aerial photographs of the Fourknocks monume...
Leo Swan was a very well-known Irish archaeologist who was one of the pioneers of aerial remote sensing. Long before the era of drones, Leo made many flights as a...
The spirals of Newgrange and the solstices
Do the spiral carvings on the stones of Newgrange represent the movement of the sun between the winter and summer solstices?
The spirals of Newgrange and the solstices
Do the spiral carvings on the stones of Newgrange represent the movement of the sun between the winter and summer solstices?
The many monuments of Brú na Bóinne
I have created this annotated top-down LiDAR image of the Bend of the Boyne (based on an image shared by Jošt Hobič on his Twitter feed) to demonstrate just how...
The many monuments of Brú na Bóinne
I have created this annotated top-down LiDAR image of the Bend of the Boyne (based on an image shared by Jošt Hobič on his Twitter feed) to demonstrate just how...
Clogherhead's fascinating archaeological and ge...
Clogherhead, County Louth – a huge rocky outcrop jutting into the Irish Sea. But this is no ordinary headland. It holds some extraordinary secrets. Clogherhead is a place that is...
Clogherhead's fascinating archaeological and ge...
Clogherhead, County Louth – a huge rocky outcrop jutting into the Irish Sea. But this is no ordinary headland. It holds some extraordinary secrets. Clogherhead is a place that is...
Feeling the 'Fuar' of Fourknocks
Fourknocks is a most special and remarkable Neolithic monument. Despite its apparent minuscule size, its chamber has a deceptively sizeable area – a large, interior, welcoming space. However, standing in...
Feeling the 'Fuar' of Fourknocks
Fourknocks is a most special and remarkable Neolithic monument. Despite its apparent minuscule size, its chamber has a deceptively sizeable area – a large, interior, welcoming space. However, standing in...
The lesser-known and hidden megalithic art of N...
The main image shows just SOME of the megalithic art on the kerb stones of the great monument of Síd in Broga (Sí an Bhrú/Newgrange), the most famous of the...
The lesser-known and hidden megalithic art of N...
The main image shows just SOME of the megalithic art on the kerb stones of the great monument of Síd in Broga (Sí an Bhrú/Newgrange), the most famous of the...
BREAKING NEWS: Death of megalithic author, rese...
Mythical Ireland is saddened to report the death of Martin Brennan, author, researcher and discoverer. Martin, who was best known for his book The Stones of Time (originally The Stars...
BREAKING NEWS: Death of megalithic author, rese...
Mythical Ireland is saddened to report the death of Martin Brennan, author, researcher and discoverer. Martin, who was best known for his book The Stones of Time (originally The Stars...
A sunny day among the megalithic monuments of C...
I guided an Australian family around the prehistoric landscape of Sligo in September 2023 on what was one of my best days ever as a tour guide. This was helped...
A sunny day among the megalithic monuments of C...
I guided an Australian family around the prehistoric landscape of Sligo in September 2023 on what was one of my best days ever as a tour guide. This was helped...
Genetics and Irish prehistory: new theories and...
The science of genetics is shedding new light on Irish prehistory, and is answering questions about the past that have been asked for generations.
Genetics and Irish prehistory: new theories and...
The science of genetics is shedding new light on Irish prehistory, and is answering questions about the past that have been asked for generations.
State buys 550-acre Dowth Hall lands to create ...
The Irish Government has purchased the Dowth Hall estate at Brú na Bóinne with the intention to create Ireland's seventh national park. Dowth Hall and demesne, along with Netterville Manor,...
State buys 550-acre Dowth Hall lands to create ...
The Irish Government has purchased the Dowth Hall estate at Brú na Bóinne with the intention to create Ireland's seventh national park. Dowth Hall and demesne, along with Netterville Manor,...