Lovers Set

Description

Six Celtic Lovers Heart Prints

In this new set, there are 5 new prints created by Suzanne FitzPatrick from my original artworks and the artwork Croí na Ceiste.

Croí na Ceiste

This one is titled ‘Croí na Ceiste’, translated as ‘The Heart of the Matter’, and is a tribute to the many women in my long life, including my amazing daughter, who have sustained me through thick and thin.

Diarmuid and Gráinne

The tale of the pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne is one of a number of epic but sad tales known as the ‘Great Sorrows of Storytelling’.

Diarmuid Donn Mac Duibne, ‘the master and charmer of all women’ was, buy all accounts a very beautiful young man who took the heart of a certain Gráinne, a girl of great beauty herself -but betrothed to Fionn Mac Cumhaill, the legendary leader of the greatest band of warriors ever to roam Ireland, known as the Fianna Éireann. Fionn had no intention of letting go of such a beautiful bride-to-be and relentlessly pursued the pair all over the countryside until finally Fionn and his army caught up with them and their escort, but peace was agreed between the warring factions. In his heart, Fionn was still angry and unforgiving and when Diarmuid was grievously wounded during a wild boar hunt Fionn allowed him to die. He went to draw water for him -for Fionn had the gift of healing -but each time Fionn let the water slip from his fingers rather than heal the gaping wound. So it was that the beautiful and brave Diarmuid was finally parted from his beloved Gráinne.

I first drew this as a pen and ink work back in 1973 and reworked it, together with the sister work from that earlier period, Conánn of the Fianna, for my book ‘Érinsaga’ published in 1984.

Erí and Elathan

One day Éri, daughter of a noble chieftain of the Tuatha Dé Danann stood gazing across the sea from her father’s tower at Maeth Scéne. The water was as calm as a polished mirror but, as she watched, she saw a silver ship; driven by magical power it moved across the calm until at last, it reached the shore beneath her window.
At the prow of the ship stood a young man fairer than any other in all her father’s land. His hair was like a golden mane and his cloak and tunic were embroidered with shining thread; he carried two silver spears and five rings of gold circled his neck.
As the ship grounded the golden prince leapt out and without hesitation climbed the spiral staircase to the room where Erí stood. Then this beautiful princess of the Tuatha Dé Danann, who had refused the love of all the bravest and most handsome men of her own land and her own race, felt her heart melt before the gaze of the fair stranger so that she lay with him and gave him her love.
– The Silver Arm. Jim Fitzpatrick.

Macha and Nemed

In ancient times the island of Ireland was invaded by many races and the Nemedians were among the most important as they were the seed race for the future invaders and conquerors of Ireland, the mystical Tuatha Dé Danann.
Nemed was king of his tribe, known as the Children of Nemed, or The Nemedians, and with his Queen, Macha, ruled Ireland until his defeat by Balor of the Evil Eye at the Battle of Conan’s Tower.

Nuada and The Morrigan

This is one of my own favourite paintings and it depicts the love of the High King of ancient Ireland, Nuada of the Silver Arm, for the war-witch, the seductress, and the shapeshifter known as The Morrígan. 

Nuada was a direct descendant of Nemed and his race the Nemedians and with a huge fleet that ‘sailed the high and the low air,’ he set to invade Ireland and take back their promised land from the dreaded Fomor and their wizard lord, Balor of the Evil Eye. 

With the help of The Morrigan, Nuada defeated the Fomorian armies at the First Battle of Moytura and became High King of all Ireland.

Oisín and Niamh

Oisín, the son of Fionn McCumhal, the legendary leader of the army called the Fianna Éireann, was a poet and a visionary and with his lover, Niamh of the Golden Hair, he journeyed on a magical horse to Tír na nÓg, The Land of Eternal Youth.
Warned by Niamh never to dismount on his return to Ireland. Many score years had passed and he found his fathers palace, ancient, ruined and fallen.
He dismounted to help an old man and, in a flash, Oisin aged his years, became a wizened old man and died that same day.