The Old Moore’s Almanac, now in its 252 year, is an annual published calendar of astronomical data and other information which also predicts future events. So what does 2016 have in store for Ireland? And how accurate can this Almanac be?

In 2015 the Old Moore’s Almanac in-house psychic predicted Kate Middleton’s pregnancy, baby gender and name, the German Wings plane crash and the plane crash over Sinai, New Zealand to take the Rugby World Cup, and Dublin and Kilkenny to win the Gaelic football and hurling. Pretty good, huh!

Here are just some of what the Old Moore’s Almanac predicts for 2016:

-Unfortunately 2016 will not be a year that will be remembered fondly.

-Hillary Clinton is the one to watch in global politics.

-Australia in recession, Irish to come home.

-Gaelic Football winner: Mayo

-Hurling winner: Galway

-Slight earthquake for Ireland in 2016. Hold on!

-Doctors announce that we have the technology to have a baby in a lab rather than in the womb.

-Irish election gets global attention (let’s hope it is nothing embarrassing).

-We will get amazing news from Jupiter.

-Investment in NASA becomes an election issue in the U.S.

-The rate of cancer in China caused by pollution skyrockets.

-Lab-grown organs become a reality.

The 2016 edition has feature articles on sacred Celtic trees, farming and technology that will blow your mind and an intellectual who thinks he can translate the symbols at Newgrange and Knowth. It also features a look back at the 1916 edition of Old Moore’s Almanac. The predictions in the 1916 edition were astoundingly accurate as bizarre events took place amidst World War One.

So, where did this amazing book come from?

An almanac (sometimes spelled almanack) is an annual calendar, usually giving astronomical data and other information. It is believed that the first almanac was compiled over 3,000 years ago in Egypt in the form of a papyrus document. The first known almanac predicting future events was issued in Hungary in the 15th century, and within a short time there was a proliferation of such publications throughout Europe.

The oldest almanac for Ireland was printed by one William Farmer in the year 1587. During the 1700s almanacs were brought out in this country by various individuals, including John Watson and John Knapp. Old Moore’s Almanac has been published for nearly two and a half centuries.

Its founder, Theophilus Moore, ran a classical academy at Milltown which was then a village near Dublin (since that time, it has been incorporated into the city). A teacher of Irish, English, Greek and Latin, he became known as a clever mathematician and a veritable wizard of astrology, gaining the nickname ‘The Irish Merlin’. He published his Old Moore’s Almanac for the first time in 1764, and received such support that the other Irish almanacs gradually dwindled away. Old Moore’s Almanac should not be confused with the English publication Moore’s Almanac, which was founded by Francis Moore, a physician. Theophilus Moore is buried in a Drumcondra churchyard, but the tradition of Old Moore’s Almanac continues unbroken to this day.

Old Moore’s Almanac has been a stocking-filler since its inception. The magazine holds on to its position of having one of the highest circulations of any indigenous magazine in the country. It has enjoyed a revival in recent years due to its accurate predictions and its love of futurism.

For more visit www.oldmooresalmanac.com or follow the Almanac on Facebook or Twitter.