The Celtic myths, involving heroic warriors such as Finn and CuChulinn, can be read as simple primitive stories, but closer examination reveals strange descriptions and relationships. The authors of this ground-breaking book argue that all the principal characters are aspects of the one Celtic sky god, Lugh, who was a comet. Against the background of a comet scenario this re-interpretation of about ten key Celtic myths shows how many of the descriptions in the myths fit the appearance of comets. The fact that these comets on occasions produced abrupt environmental changes, that can be traced in the tree-ring and ice-core chronologies, pins the stories to a central reality. With a novel twist this original book confirms the widespread belief that these stories must contain a 'core of truth'.

Mike Baillie is Professor of Palaeoecology in the School of Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Queen's University Belfast, where Patrick McCafferty was recently awarded his Masters Degree. Professor Baillie is the author of 'Exodus to Arthur: catastrophic encounters with comets' and 'A Slice through Time: dendrochronology and precision dating'.