The almanac has been a bible in rural households for generations with its tide tables, moon phases and listings of local animal marts.

But its predictions for the coming year are one of the favourites among its 46,000-strong readership.

The 251-year-old Irish publication founded by the Dublin astrologist and mathematician Theophilus Moore in 1764 prides itself on the accuracy of its annual predictions, many of which have come true over the years.

Last year it correctly predicted that Canadian pop brat Justin Bieber would have a car crash in 2014 near his hometown of Stratford, Ontario while trying to evade paparazzi.

Some of its key political predictions also came to pass. Last year it said the Government - now at its lowest point in the polls since coming to power and facing the likely prospect of an early general election next year -would be "unsettled" in 2014. It also predicted politics would get "crass" this year, neatly reflected in recent spats in the Dail between Labour leader Joan Burton and Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald, and the increasingly fractious behaviour of our elected politicians.

According to the Almanac's oracle - a middle-aged North Dublin psychic - we can expect to see the Irish Water saga take a "new turn" in February. The oracle also predicts another topsy turvy year for the property market, which it says will "continue its soap opera with plenty of ups and downs" in March, but chillingly warns that by July we can brace ourselves for "a spectacular real estate failure that makes jaws drop".

On a lighter note, and following on from his much publicised charm offensive this year as part of a corporate strategy to be more customer-focused, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary will become like Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Day following his visits from the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, and he may not even recognise himself in 2015.

"Now he's to become Mr Nice Guy," said the editor of Old Moore's Almanac, Nicole Buckler Kelly.

"Either he's had some kind of epiphany or someone has put an 'E' in his tea," she said of impending further transformation of the once curmudgeonly budget airline chief who recently admitted: "Being nice to people doesn't come naturally to me."

We can also look forward to a national sex scandal, although it is, according to the Almanac, "mild on a global comparison".

Wine lovers are advised to stock up now as a predicted grape shortage next year will threaten worldwide wine production. There will be the launch of another Titanic next year, although there are no impending warnings of any subsequent cruise line disasters - and a hotel will open in space.

Sinkholes - such as the one that emerged overnight at a housing estate in Co Kerry recently - will be all over the news next year as will a major airline mishap for Ireland in November.

Meanwhile, perhaps on a more predictable note, pop star Miley Cyrus will enter the world of soft porn (hasn't she already?) and there will be "more crazy news out of North Korea".

We can also look forward to hearing tales from the other side after "someone comes back from the dead with a story to tell," according to Ms Buckler Kelly.

Sunday Independent

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