An Irish Miscellany for St Patrick's Day

The Art of Jim Fitzpatrick

The following illustrations of the countryside and animals of Ireland are by Jim Fitzpatrick, one of Ireland's most talented and prolific artists. He has illustrated books, designed posters and murals and compiled calendars as well as selling original oil and watercolour paintings. You can see more of his art HERE

This painting was based on a real dolmen in County Clare. The owl and the full moon are symbols of the Goddess Danu.




Dunguaire Castle
another winter painting showing the creatures of the shore- otter and grey gull


This carved figure stands on Boa island. Perhaps related to the Sheela-na-gig, she is guarded by the Goddess's hare.



Ireland is known for her monasteries and shrines, her traditional music and her silver celtic jewellery, all of which can be found in the heart of the country-


here is the famous rock and monastery of cashel. The tower was a later addition as a defence against viking raids. Sadly the vikings sacked the monastery and destroyed many books, even though it was well inland.


Music is everywhere in Ireland- try a sing-song at a traditional pub in Killarney, or a local festival at Lunasa in August. Whistles, bodhrans, flutes, fiddles and squeezeboxes combine to make a distinctive sound- as distinctive as the Irish designs in these lovely brooches-

1....2....3
The first is a modern design based on the three-armed spiral or 'triskel'. It symbolises the waves of the sea. The second is the traditional celtic sun-cross combining the symbols of cross and sun-wheel, and the third is a copy of a brooch discovered in an ancient burial mound at Tara.



Ireland's mythology is full of heroes- and none more heroic than Fionn McCumhail (Finn MacCool) who is sometimes said to be a giant. Huge boulders in Donegal are said to be his 'curling stones' and his also is the great basalt formation in Ulster known as the Giants Causeway. The island of Ailsa Craig which lies half-way between Ireland and Scotland was reputedly hurled by him at a fleeing foe.




And of course no celebration of Irishness would be complete without mentioning the Leprechaun-

Here he is in his favourite guise as the fairy shoemaker. But Leprechauns are tricksters and while some are, like the Scottish Brownie, obliging enough to mend any shoes left out for them (on payment of a penny piece), others, like the Black Loorgan, are malicious pranksters who will sour the cream and spoil the cheese if not appeased with saucers of milk at the door. - And if you should happen to steal some of his gold, you can be sure it will turn to rose petals or dry leaves in your pocket!