A "master storyteller" lures readers into mysterious past

A new review of 'Newgrange: Monument to Immortality' has been published by Tinteán, an Irish heritage magazine in Australia. The review is hugely positive. Here are some extracts (you can read the whole review by following this link):

Far removed from the usual dry language of archaeology, this book shows Anthony Murphy as a master storyteller who is adept at luring the reader with him into the mysterious past.

Modern astronomers argue that, without pens, paper and calculators, ancient peoples could not have followed other complex star or moon cycles, but Murphy makes a good case that they probably could have done and would have found them useful.  

Other issues such as a possible use of the powerful tunnel/light motif in shamanistic ceremonials concerned with death and rebirth are explored by Murphy, but probably the strangest tale about Newgrange that he tells concerns George William Russell’s ‘Dream of Angus Oge’.

Finally Murphy explains the importance of Newgrange in his own spiritual journey after the destruction of the 9/11 terrorist attacks shook his faith in humanity. He has visited the site many times, ultimately winning a place among the select few who now witness the winter solstice within the monument today.

For anyone who has visited the site, or is interested in the ancient history of Ireland, this would be a valuable book with its many illustrations and accessible, but highly scholarly, explanations.

Murphy draws many lessons from the building of Newgrange that are important to the difficulties faced by modern societies, particularly Ireland.

I have extended my thanks to the magazine editor and the review author. See the whole review on the website of Tinteán magazine.

Archaeology Ireland magazine gives book a positive review

Archaeology Ireland magazine has published a very positive review of 'Newgrange: Monument to Immortality'. The publication features regular book reviews, which in general are carried out by the magazine's editor, archaeologist Tom Condit. The following is the text of the review, which was carried in their summer 2013 issue:

Newgrange at sunset by Anthony Murphy

Newgrange – Monument to Immortality (The Liffey Press, pb, €24.95) is the title of a new book by journalist, writer, photographer and amateur astronomer Anthony Murphy. Inspired by the scale and symbolism of Newgrange, Murphy expresses his Newgrange story in an engaging text throughout the boo. He states, ‘As long as we have questions about Newgrange, we will continue to explore it, and we will carry on trying to quench our thirst for knowledge’.

Readable and interesting, this publication on Newgrange takes us beyond archaeology into some of the more interesting characteristics of the mound that provoke a whole range of reactions from those who get caught in its web of mystique.

Murphy examines the background to the construction of the great mound and passage tomb, with particular emphasis on the community effort and technical skills that would have been required in its construction.

The importance of the celestial movements and the annual cycle of the sun are of particular significance, and several chapters are devoted to this aspect of the tomb’s construction. In subsequent chapters the author explores the ‘womb or tomb?’ theme, drawing attention to the questions concerning the function of such tombs that go beyond burial and disposal of the dead.

Newgrange is still a meaningful place for modern people, who are attracted to its sense of spirituality. Murphy develops this theme further in discussing the accounts of people who have described their own ‘near death experiences’, where lights at the end of tunnels are commonly reported (the metaphor for death is a strong one when seen in this context!).

Subsequent chapters on cave myths and the author’s own experience in the tomb at solstice provide an intriguing juxtaposition of ancient accounts from the past and the modern-day reality of visiting the interior of Newgrange. The book itself is beautifully produced and illustrated throughout with high-quality colour images.

Jack Roberts praises Newgrange book

I recently received correspondence from Jack Roberts, who lives in the west of Ireland, following his visit to Newgrange at the solstice. He had the following beautiful words to say about my new book, 'Newgrange: Monument to Immortality', which I am extremely grateful to receive, and which he has given me permission to re-post:

Jack Roberts with Martin Brennan

I was at Newgrange a few days before the solstice hoping I might get some shots of the shadows outside but it was rather with the desire just to be there. Unfortunately it was foggy but at least I was there before the 'end of the world' crowds on the 21st....
The highlight of my morning journey however was that I picked up a copy of your book 'Newgrange' and reading it has cast a beautiful spell over the solstice / xmas for me.
Thank you for this work. It is an extraordinarily good synthesis of the story/history and relevance of our wonderful treasure. And I am not saying that because you placed Brennan's work in its true light but for the whole way you have placed Newgrange in its context of the present world.
A wonder filled book.
I have of course been extolling its virtues to all and sundry and will continue to so do.
All best wishes to you and your family for the new year and thanks again for creating such a superb book.

Thank you so much, Jack, for these kind words. I am moved. I really am. I am grateful that people like you, and Martin Brennan, and Toby Hall and the other members of your gang helped to unlock so many of the secrets of the Boyne Valley sites and indeed the other megalithic remains around Ireland.

See more here: http://blog.mythicalireland.com/2013/01/newgrange-book-glowing-tribute-from.html

Newgrange is 1/10th of the earth's circumference from Giza pyramids

I am drawing no conclusions from this at the moment, but it is fascinating nonetheless. Newgrange is located precisely one tenth of the earth's circumference from the Giza Pyramids in Egypt. This was apparently first noticed by James Q. Jacobs in 1991 using spherical trigonometry, and can now be easily demonstrated using Google Earth. Archaeologists don't believe there is any connection between Newgrange and the pyramids, but there are lots of people who do. This is just one of a number of correlations that have been discovered by other researchers and authors. I will leave it for you to decide whether you think this is just a bizarre coincidence or something else: http://www.mythicalireland.com/ancientsites/newgrange/newgrange-pyramids/newgrange-and-the-pyramids.html

Sean Moncrieff Newstalk interview about new Newgrange book

Above is a link to my interview with Sean Moncrieff on Newstalk radio last Friday, December 21st, the day of the winter solstice. Although it had been cloudy for the solstice at Newgrange, the largest crowd ever to gather at the monument (at least in modern times) came together to enjoy the event. Sean Moncrieff was interviewing me about my new book, 'Newgrange: Monument to Immortality', and asked some very interesting questions about this remarkable monument. Below is a photo of my copy of the book which I had read from at Newgrange that morning, and which Sean kindly autographed for me!

My copy of the Newgrange book autographed
by Newstalk presenter Sean Moncrieff

Reading from the book at Newgrange, winter solstice 2012

This is a short video clip of me reading from 'Newgange: Monument to Immortality' at Newgrange on Friday, December 21st, 2012, the winter solstice. The day was cloudy, so there was no sunshine in the chamber, but the hundreds of people who gathered at the monument enjoyed themselves nonetheless. There was a particularly big turnout this year, the biggest I've ever seen in thirteen years of going there, driven in part no doubt by the fascination with the supposed Mayan end of the world predictions. The reading above is from George William Russell's 'A Dream of Angus Oge' in which he appears to describe in a spectacular and poetic way the illumination of the Newgrange chamber - 70 years before Prof. Michael O'Kelly restored the roofbox allowing it to function again. Extraordinary stuff.

Moon and stars over Newgrange

With winter closing in this photo, taken at Newgrange a couple of nights ago, certainly has that cold feeling about it. The temperature had dropped quite considerably and there was a severe wind chill. This was taken around 5.45pm, after sunset but with the afterglow still evident. The crescent moon hung low in the southwest and the constellation of Aquila, the Eagle, soared above it. The small amount of cloud, lit up by the lights of Dublin, helped add some sense of warmth to the scene.