Description
TORY ISLAND.
Tory is eight miles off the coast of Donegal, it is the most northerly Irish island that is inhabited. Today there are but a few people living on the island. Those who were born and reared on Tory were subjected to harsh weather and limited access to the mainland. There are no trees on the island and stone walls protected crops and vegetables.
It is a small island – three miles long and three-quarters of a mile wide- and up to the 1970s the local community still used outdated farming methods and spoke their own version of the Irish language. At that time, it was planned to have the remaining families evacuated from the island. However, the community opted to stay and there is a regular ferry from the island to Donegal. Those now living on the island rely on farming, fishing and, to some extent, tourism.
Jim Fitzpatrick:
“This island is associated with Balor of the Evil Eye, the Fomor Chieftain who became the King of Tory. My first two books – Book of Conquests and Silver Arm told the story of the clash of civilization between the Tuatha De Danann and the ancient Fomorians. I have, as a result, always been fascinated with this island.”
CityJet, the Irish airline, commissioned the internationally renowned artist, Jim Fitzpatrick, to create images that would reflect the mythology, history and natural environment of Ireland’s islands. These remote islands, nearly as far west as one can get in Europe, are hidden gems and places of staggering natural beauty. In some cases, history and folklore are all that’s left today of some of the smaller islands. The once vibrant fishing communities are now deserted, a haunting landscape of roofless cottages and grass-covered potato ridges. The islands uniquely reveal to the resolute traveler a rare glimpse of Irish life over the centuries: bronze age settlements, promontory forts used by marauding Celtic tribes, small early Christian chapels, the rocky remains of Norman forts and the burial sites of islanders. This collection includes paintings depicting the following islands: Bere, Clare, Rathlin, Tory, Skellig Michael & St. Macdara
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