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Jim Fitzpatrick
A new range of 500 piece puzzles is available now, with more to follow. No man in Ireland has a sharper awareness of what we inherit from the ancient past than Jim Fitzpatrick. Not only is he an authority on Celtic art, he also possesses a sense of the mystery that hides behind the material world. He is the most eloquent Irish poet ever to wield a paintbrush. He is a highly individualistic, self-taught Dublin born artist, whose style owes much to his Celtic forebears and has achieved worldwide recognition as one of Ireland’s most exciting and original interpreters of Celtic mythology and other related themes.
DIARMUID AND GRÁINNE 1,000 & 500 piece. Diarmuid Donn Mac Duibhne “the master and charmer of women” was a member of the Fianna of Fionn Mac Cumhaill and one of his closest friends. Diarmuid, however, committed the unforgivable sin of eloping with Fionn’s bride-to-be, the beautiful Gráinne. For many years they were on the run from Fionn and the Fianna and wandered through Connacht and Munster. They eventually made their peace with Fionn through the goodwill of Aongus, but in his heart Fionn never forgave Diarmuid. Fionn lured Diarmuid to the top of Ben Bulben, Co. Sligo and left him alone to face a fierce wild boar. After a long fight Diarmuid managed to kill the beast but was mortally gored himself. Fionn refused him the only thing that could save him, a draught of water from the hands of Fionn, who had the gift of healing. Twice Fionn brought water to Diarmuid and twice let it flow through his fingers, and by the third time he brought water, Diarmuid was dead.
NUADA THE HIGH KING 1,000 & 500 piece. The Tuatha Dé Danaan were a mystical race of people who invaded Ireland on the fire festival of Beltene. Immediately setting fire to their magical ships, they demanded battle from the Fomor and the Fir Bolg, for Ireland was theirs by right of heredity, their promised land. In the ensuing First Battle of Moy Tura, Nuada, the semi-devine King of the Tuatha Dé, lost an arm and because of this mutilation was obliged to abdicate in favour of Breas the Beautiful. Breas was a tyrannical ruler and all laboured under the heavy taxation demanded. Moreover, Breas lacked the mark of a true king of his race: generosity. The chieftains of the Tuatha Dé complained that “their knives were not greased by him, and however often they visited him their breaths did not smell of ale”. There was on art, no music, no poetry, no entertainment; Ireland was a “land of sheep” and the Tuatha Dé were divided. Meanwhile Nuada, his arm struck off, was seven years under cure from Dian Cécht the Healer. During this time the healing was completed and a silver arm, richly decorated with sacred runes, and with movement in every finger, was fitted to his shoulder. From then on he was known as Nuada of the Silver Arm, and he was reinstated as High King.
BÓANN 1,000 piece. Bóann was the wife of Elcmar, a Chieftain of the Tuatha Dé Danaan. One day Elcmar was dispatched on a long obscure errand by the All-Father, the Great God Dagda. Making nine months seem like one day, Dagda prolonged his absence while he seduced Bóann who then bore him Oengus. He was called the Mac Óg, the Young Son, for his mother said “young is the son who was begotten at break of day and born between it and evening”. Bóann, the Goddess of the White Cow, became a cult figure of some importance among those late arrivals, the Celts, and was worshipped as a cow-goddess by them (the cow was a symbol of abundance). Her cult centre was at Brú-na-Bóann, the great neolithic cemetery of tombs and tumuli in the Boyne Valley. Water from the Well of the White Cow, which is now known as St. Patrick’s Well on the Hill of Tara, eventually leads into the River Boyne which is named after Bóann.
SIZES OF FINISHED PUZZLES: 1,000
piece: 50 x 66.5cm or 19 3/4" x 26 1/4" |
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RACHEL
ARBUCKLE |
CELTIC
LEGENDS |
LEPRECHAUNS |
© M. W. Heasman 1993-2004. All Rights reserved. Patented, Designs Registered & Trade Marks. |
