Original
using oils, archival pigment ink, structure gel, Irish bog turf, gloss on canvas and birchwood panel …with its own unique frame
TurfPic 18″ x 14″
Ben Bulben is a gigantic geological formation rising 526 metres above sea level offering a breathtaking view of the Sligo coast along the Wild Atlantic Way, West Ireland
There is an Irish Legend of the love triangle between The Great Fionn McChul, Deirmuid and Grainne which causes the ridges and caves at the top Ben bulben as it was passed down to me as a child by my Dad who came from co Sligo/roscommon border ……
Fionn MacChul, the very same giant who is credited with building the Giant’s Causeway – needed to choose a bride to appease his clan. He had many potential brides to choose from, but it was Grainne, the most beautiful young woman in Ireland (who also happened to be the daughter of the High King Cormac Mac Airt) who he pursued to become his wife.
However, it was at their engagement party that Grainne met Diarmuid who was a mighty warrior retained in Fionn MacChumhail‘s service of elite warriors, the Fianna.
It was love at first sight –
Diarmuid and Grainne escaped together – some versions say she actually drugged the whole banquet except for Diarmuid in order to get him on his own! In any case, the couple eloped together. Upon waking up in the morning and finding his beloved and best warrior gone, one can imagine that the jilted Fionn McChul became very angry and turned into an angry mythological Giant bull who pursued them all over Ireland.
He was so angry that it was Fionn, now the Bull, whose giant horns bore deeply making the infamous ridges and caves at the top of Ben Bulben spurned in by angry jilted feelings looking to find and kill Diarmuid who stole his Bride.
And that’s how the ridges were made.
image and Text story version by yvonnekellyart
18″ x14 oils on wood panel with its own unique frame included.
no A.I. image allowed
