Beautiful. Can you tell us about the historic depictions?
I can indeed! From the top left, clockwise, I added an illustrations of Irish Gaels, Norman Cavalry, a segment of a battle scene between Gaels and Norsemen, at the very bottom of the page is my depiction of a Norseman. On the left of the map, from the bottom we have Gallowglass mercenaries from Scotland, a Norman soldier, some more Irish Gaels, and above all that is a Viking Longboat, followed at the top centre by my depiction of an Irish Chieftain.
The map itself contains, in Irish, the names of the ancient Irish Provinces, the ancient Irish Provincial capitals, the banner symbols of the Provinces, and some of the key pre historic sites.I also added the main towns and cities that were founded by the Vikings, and I added their Old Norse names. Also I added some key battle sites that influenced Irish history up to the Flight of the Earls in 1607. In the background I added details and script from the Book of Kells. Finally I wrote Ireland, as Éire, in a script from the 16th century.
I wanted to add so much more, but I was wary of making the map look too cluttered :)
Looking forward to seeing more of your work :)
I'll add some more as I progress. I just really started into painting and drawing after a long time away from it, I've always like sketching, but I've just started to paint in the last few months.
That is FANTASTIC, Dermot! I would buy a print of this piece.
Thanks Ryan! I have to get it scanned somewhere. The drawing was done on A2 paper, because of the amount of detail I wanted to do, so I'm at a loss as to where to get it printed locally, as my local printer can only take a print from a maximum size of A3.
Stunning!
Thank you Kelly! :)
Outstanding work! The old adage 'A picture tells a thousand stories', is so true. Your work brings to mind information I found while searching my Dromore, Tyrone line.
At the time, the parish of Dromore had two “ballybetaghs” or estates. One “Ballinegranaghie” in the townland of Cranny. The other, “Ballinegallvolly”, the Irish form Baile na nGall-bhaili’: The ballibetagh of the foreign homesteads survives in the townlands of Galbally and NewPark. Remains can be found today in the crannóg(man made island) on Goalbally Lough and two ringed forts. The ring-forts of the western part of the parish are present today. One is southeast of Galbally Lough. The other is west in Newpark (formerly Galbally). The “little island” mentioned above is also there. Foreign warriors or troops from the Hebrides and Argyll, brought in by O’Neill, most likely gave name to Galbally. These troops were a standing army to Tir Eoghain. It was Donall O’Neill, King of Tir Eoghain who first introduced these Gail-Gaeil (foreign Irish) and settled them into the territories. Many families of these tall fighting men were given lands by Irish lords from the mid-thirteenth century on. O’Neill’s gallowglasses were among the most famous of them all-the MacDonnells and their relations, the MacSorleys. These surnames are common in Dromore and Kilskeery parish today.
I'm serious about buying a print from you when you sort out a solution, Dermot. Be sure to let us know here when you have them. :-)
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