Old Moore's Almanac

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).

The current owners of the Old Moore's Almanac, the Lithographic Group, possess back issues dating from 1914 onwards.

The magazine was traditionally a resource for the merchants and business people of the late 1760s, and later, an entertainment-style publication for the agricultural community in rural Ireland.

Topics include the revival of lost Irish traditions, technology, urban farming, country sporting pursuits, unusual breeds of animals, recipes, hints and tips, the paranormal, traditional medicine, horoscopes, and an analysis of antique issues of the Almanac (pre-1950).

He was related to Thomas Moore, the poet, who attended his school for a considerable time before he entered college.

Theophilus frequented the house of Thomas Moore's father in Aungier St.; they were kinsmen in name and race and consequently allied to each other by ties of close intimacy for many years.

It has been asserted that he was a descendant of Rory Oge O'Moore, the ruins of whose castle may still be seen on the rock of Dunamase, three miles east of Portlaoise.

He is said to have taught the young members of the Palmerston household, but his fidelity to the Catholic faith and refusal to conform to the Established Church lost him their patronage.

The woodcut picture of Theophilus Moore used in the book for centuries was carved towards the end of his life, and it shows him bent over, with a walking stick.

"In his early manhood his figure was tall, slight, elastic and graceful; towards the end of his life it naturally was inclined to be stooped.

His nose was long and aquiline; and the furrowed lines on his high and intellectual forehead proclaimed to the world the deep and anxious thought that ever occupied his great and active mind."

It was thought that just before this sometime, the word "Old" was added to the title, in honour of how long Theophilus actually lived, which was a remarkable achievement of the time.

This title is thought to be derived from the Goddess of the Moon, Diana; the connection of the bards with astrology makes the reference easily understood.

On the death of John McCall, the bards became very vocal, and many elegies appeared for many years in praise of his work and in his memory.

After McCall, the relatively famous Patrick Keary edited the Moore's Almanack under the pen name "Kevin Kay" for two years.

In 1940 the circulation was 200,000 copies, and even more than that were sold "in every part of the globe whither Irishmen have gone.The popularity of Old Moore's Almanack was well grounded, upon its usefulness and its interest.

As regards the former, it supplied, in cheap and handy form, much information of everyday service to the farmer and rural worker, as well as to many town-dwellers."

Even beggars were said to have bought the Old Moore's Almanack, they gained the best begging takings at the fairs and marts that were listed faithfully in each edition.

Historian B. P. Bowen said in 1940; The success of the Old Moore's Almanac meant that more copycat versions sprang to life, all wanting a piece of the pie.

Nugent acted as manager and editor of this rip-off version of the Old Moore's Almanac until his death in 1866, and after that it was taken over by his assistant.

Warren obtained an injunction against Quirke restraining him from publishing any almanac containing a list of fairs taken from the plaintiff's publication.

This was due to the fact that many copycat almanacs were already published in England called "Old Moore's" and it would be too difficult to police.

Theophilus Moore himself was said to have had a great skill in prophecy, and subsequent editors made sure that whoever did the predictions was good at it.

In that year also, Old Moore declared that "the Eternal City would have cause to go into mourning," and the death of Pope Leo XIII in July, 1903 was the apparent fulfilment of that prophecy.

After Old Moore's successful prediction of the victory of a horse called Blenheim in the Derby, many half-crowns were sent direct to the editor to be staked on the winner of the next big race.

Old Moore was so popular at one time that the travelling pedlar or the man walking the roads had often cause to bless the Almanac.

One pedlar has said that he always set out with a bundle of the recently issued Almanacs under his arm, knowing that for many a day he could obtain his bed and board from those he visited, thanks to the welcome given to Old Moore in the countryside.