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Island of the Setting Sun: In Search of Ireland's Ancient Astronomers
Ireland is home to some of the world’s oldest astronomically-aligned structures, giant stone monuments erected over 5,000 years ago. Despite their apparent simplicity, these megalithic edifices were crafted by a scientifically knowledgeable community of farmers who endeavored to enshrine their beliefs in a stellar afterlife within the very fabric of their cleverly designed stone temples.
Finally back in print, this reissued edition presents evidence suggesting the builders of monuments such as Newgrange and its Boyne Valley counterparts were adept astronomers, cunning engineers and capable surveyors. Their huge monuments are memorials in stone and earth, commemorating their creators’ perceived unity with the cosmos and enshrining a belief system which resulted from a crossover between science and spirituality.
As investigation of this awe-inspiring civilization of people continues on many levels, evidence is emerging that significant archaeological sites dating from deep in prehistory are linked – not just through mythology, archaeology and cosmology – but through an arrangement of complex, and in some cases astonishing, alignments. Some of these alignments of ancient sites stretch from one side of Ireland to another.
While the accounts of the lives of some prominent Irish saints appear to be steeped in folklore and mystery, it seems from new interpretations of the literature that the cosmic world view which existed in Neolithic Ireland experienced a continuity right into the Early Christian period.
Join us on this fascinating exploration of stones, stars and stories.
“The sheer amount of information contained within the book is mind-boggling. It is well thought out and structured . . . The more you read the evidence the more convinced you become.” – Astronomy & Space magazine
“Refreshing and fascinating . . . a wonderful magical book, sumptuously illustrated and a must for anyone who loves to delve deep into our past.” – Kenny’s Irish Bookshop
“A fascinating insight into Ireland’s ancient burial sites” – Irish Independent
“A monument” – Drogheda Independent
“It is a beautiful book and very well written. The information that you collected is outstanding.” – Barbara Carter, co-author, The Myth of the Year and The Goddess and the Bull
“The authors . . . reach interesting and challenging conclusions about the significance of ancient astronomical knowledge. The book is jammed with colour illustrations, maps and photographs. A thoroughly interesting read!” – Archaeology Ireland
"An essential book that demonstrates just how much the beliefs and practices of our ancestors were influenced by the movement of the stars, in particular those of the constellation Cygnus - the celestial swan and Northern Cross - once seen as a source of life and the destination of the soul in death. A must have tome for all those passionate about what remains of our fast disappearing ritual monuments of the prehistoric age." - Andrew Collins, author of The Cygnus Mystery
Finally back in print, this reissued edition presents evidence suggesting the builders of monuments such as Newgrange and its Boyne Valley counterparts were adept astronomers, cunning engineers and capable surveyors. Their huge monuments are memorials in stone and earth, commemorating their creators’ perceived unity with the cosmos and enshrining a belief system which resulted from a crossover between science and spirituality.
As investigation of this awe-inspiring civilization of people continues on many levels, evidence is emerging that significant archaeological sites dating from deep in prehistory are linked – not just through mythology, archaeology and cosmology – but through an arrangement of complex, and in some cases astonishing, alignments. Some of these alignments of ancient sites stretch from one side of Ireland to another.
While the accounts of the lives of some prominent Irish saints appear to be steeped in folklore and mystery, it seems from new interpretations of the literature that the cosmic world view which existed in Neolithic Ireland experienced a continuity right into the Early Christian period.
Join us on this fascinating exploration of stones, stars and stories.
“The sheer amount of information contained within the book is mind-boggling. It is well thought out and structured . . . The more you read the evidence the more convinced you become.” – Astronomy & Space magazine
“Refreshing and fascinating . . . a wonderful magical book, sumptuously illustrated and a must for anyone who loves to delve deep into our past.” – Kenny’s Irish Bookshop
“A fascinating insight into Ireland’s ancient burial sites” – Irish Independent
“A monument” – Drogheda Independent
“It is a beautiful book and very well written. The information that you collected is outstanding.” – Barbara Carter, co-author, The Myth of the Year and The Goddess and the Bull
“The authors . . . reach interesting and challenging conclusions about the significance of ancient astronomical knowledge. The book is jammed with colour illustrations, maps and photographs. A thoroughly interesting read!” – Archaeology Ireland
"An essential book that demonstrates just how much the beliefs and practices of our ancestors were influenced by the movement of the stars, in particular those of the constellation Cygnus - the celestial swan and Northern Cross - once seen as a source of life and the destination of the soul in death. A must have tome for all those passionate about what remains of our fast disappearing ritual monuments of the prehistoric age." - Andrew Collins, author of The Cygnus Mystery
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2007
About the author
Anthony Murphy
33 books36 followersI am a journalist, author and photographer living in Drogheda, Ireland, with my wife Ann and our five children. I live four miles from Newgrange, a 5,000-year-old stone monument in the Boyne Valley. My exploration of the valley over the past 19 years has led been a huge influence in my work, both non-fiction and fiction.
I am the author (with artist Richard Moore)of 'Island of the Setting Sun: In Search of Ireland's Ancient Astronomers' (Liffey Press, 2006, 2008). I wrote 'Newgrange: Monument to Immortality' (Liffey Press, 2012). I contributed to 'The Mythology of Venus', an international collaboration edited by Helen Benigni and featuring a foreword by Morgan Llywelyn. My latest work of non-fiction is called 'Mythical Ireland: New Light on the Ancient Past'.
My first work of fiction was a novella, 'Land of the Ever-Living Ones'. My second work of fiction is a short novel called 'The Cry of the Sebac'.
I am the former Editor of the Drogheda Leader newspaper and was also Editor of the Dundalk Democrat newspaper. I currently work as a sub editor and graphic designer for the Irish Farmers Journal and The Irish Field newspapers.
I am the author (with artist Richard Moore)of 'Island of the Setting Sun: In Search of Ireland's Ancient Astronomers' (Liffey Press, 2006, 2008). I wrote 'Newgrange: Monument to Immortality' (Liffey Press, 2012). I contributed to 'The Mythology of Venus', an international collaboration edited by Helen Benigni and featuring a foreword by Morgan Llywelyn. My latest work of non-fiction is called 'Mythical Ireland: New Light on the Ancient Past'.
My first work of fiction was a novella, 'Land of the Ever-Living Ones'. My second work of fiction is a short novel called 'The Cry of the Sebac'.
I am the former Editor of the Drogheda Leader newspaper and was also Editor of the Dundalk Democrat newspaper. I currently work as a sub editor and graphic designer for the Irish Farmers Journal and The Irish Field newspapers.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 16, 2016
I highly recommend this book for basic insights into the religion and science of the astronomer-priests who built the Bend (Womb) of the River Boyne monuments. The reader is led to realize that folklore is actually the remains of a whole set of myths for a particular religion, and many such examples are given and explained. The science of these ancient scientists is also discussed at length. Island of the Setting Sun is an enjoyable and readable intro into the exciting truth behind the elaborate passage tombs of ireland and related sites. There once was a time when science and religion were one.
February 28, 2021
This is so well written that I break my cardinal rule of not scribing 5 star reviews. I especially love reading about these ancient astronomer's take on the constellations... you will have to read the content in order to not be the unforgivable "spoiler."
August 2, 2021
"What better land than this..."
February 3, 2011
Shows how the Boyne Valley has been used for centuries for symbolic invasion and it is all to do with what is happening in the heavens...Now it has been found that there are no swords, guns, weapons of any kind, no coins and no coat buttons at the site of the supposed Battle of the Boyne, again more lies built upon lies...
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews