Almanac warns of wet year and end of physical money in 2018

The magazine which sells around 47,000 copies annually, started its life in 1764 as the ‘Irish Merlin’ when it was published by Dublin academic Theophilus Moore.

It is most famous for its predictions of future events, both Irish and global.

For example, a year before it happened, Old Moore predicted that Kanye West would have mental health problems, the Barrier Reef would be at risk of dying, and that drone pizza delivery would happen. It also predicted the rise of Bitcoin over five years ago.

This year’s edition predicts that flooding will be a problem in Ireland and that cryptocurrencies (virtual money) will change the world in a short span of time.

The almanac says that 2018 will be the year of the “shock death of celebrities”, predicting that there will be a lot of well-known people who will die suddenly or unexpectedly.

Also among the forecasts are terrorism in Canada, US President Donald Trump being more careful on Twitter, Irish millennials moving abroad in increasing numbers, many complex surgeries being performed by robots, a boy for Royal couple William and Kate, heart problems for Pope Francis, a drug to prevent obesity and a pensioner crime wave.

• Old Moore’s Almanac was published in November and is now available in many newsagents.