Description

FÓDHLA GODDESS OF IRELAND

Fódhla, with her sister goddesses Ériu and Banbha, was one of a triumvirate of divine female spirits of that mystical tribe known as the Tuatha Dé Danann, who gave their names to the island of Ireland in the earliest times BC.
When the last of five successive invaders, the Milesians, invaded Ireland, each of the three goddesses asked the poet and bard, Amergin, that their names be given to the country. Amergin agreed and so it was that the island of Ireland was named, in turn, Ériu, Banbha, and Fódhla.
Today only the name of the goddess Ériu
(Éireann=Érin=Ireland) retains this honour while the other female names for Ireland have all but been forgotten -but these were not just blithe spirits full of joy and goodwill.
As the Milesian invaders journeyed through the Island they were attacked and harassed by a ‘swift fairy host’ led by Fodhla and the ferocious black crow goddess, the Morrigan, who was worshipped by Fodhla, according to the annals.

This new work has been far too long in the making, started back in 1983 thru1985 and finally finished in 2021. I suppose anything good is worth waiting for.
This work was intended as one of a series depicting the divine trio, with Ériu already completed years ago but time is running out if I am to add a new painting of Banbha so I better get goin this year ☺

The Pencil Cartouche

This little pencil cartouche is of a standing stone, reputed locally on Bere Island, West County Cork, to be the standing stone erected by the Tuatha Dé Danann to commemorate their landing place on the island of Ireland in pre-history times BC.
In my painting of Fodhla, I depict this same standing stone as freshly created and inscribed before the centuries of harsh weathering reduced it to the large 10 foot high pitted hulk that remains today, maybe 5,000 years later.

Check out my blog post about Fodhla!

Print Details

Printed and drawn on A3 16″x11″ Fabriano Artistico Watercolor Rag 310gsm paper. This is a Signed and Embossed Limited Edition of 25.

POSTAGE

Please allow ten days before shipping as each watercolour cartouche is printed, drawn, and painted on order.