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Watch Back: The Ice Age giant deer Megaloceros

Giant deer fossil skeletons on display in NMI-Natural History

Join Nigel Monaghan, recently retired Keeper, National Museum of Ireland - Natural History, for a short online talk about the ‘Irish Elk’ or ‘giant deer’ Megaloceros Ireland’s most famous extinct animal. 


These magnificent animals were as big as a horse and had the largest antlers ever seen on a deer, at almost four metres. They were widespread across the island at the end of the last ice age and are found in many museums around the world as well as stately homes in Ireland. Known since the 1580s, we now know a lot more about how they lived, and why they went extinct due to climate change. 


This talk was programmed for Heritage Week 2022. It first took place as a closed YouTube live event on Friday, 19 August 2022. It is a pre-recorded talk with live Q&A.

For more highlights about the collections at the Museum visit our online talk series 'Tales from the Decant' 


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Natural History

Natural History,
Merrion Street,
Dublin 2,
D02 F627

+353 1 677 7444