Description
This original artwork is based on the Celtic art, myths and legends of Ireland and is the cover of my book THE SILVER ARM.
“Then, with a wild war-cry, the invincible hero, Lugh, plunged through the centre of the trapped Fomor host. Behind him followed the Shí, the Faerie Host, riding in terrible silence on their winged steeds. From the silver hooves of their horses rose a mist that dimmed the dark Fomor eyes, so that they did not know whether they struck down friend or foe. Rank after rank of the Fomor fell before the onslaught of Lugh and his magical companions” Excerpt from ‘The Silver Arm’
Nuada Airgedlámh (Nuada of the Silver Arm) was king of the tribe known as the Tuatha Dé Danann who invaded Éireann (Ireland) in earliest times. In the First Battle of MoyTura, Nuada, while victorious, lost his right arm in this battle while in the second battle he lost his life. In his keeping was Cliamh Solais –the Sword of Fire, which, once unsheathed, was so powerful that no enemy could stand before it.
‘High up in my eyrie, I the sea-eagle Tuan, saw a huge raven plummet down onto the tent of Nuada. As it alighted on a tight drawn hawser it spread out its wings, silver-blue in the moonlight, and I knew it for what it was. I watched it turn into a woman, it’s pale nakedness shrouded by dark hair. It was Morrigan, the crow of battle, also beautiful war-witch, who had come to answer the anguished call of Nuada. As she entered Nuada’s tent my heart ached, for I remembered a time when I too was king and received pleasure and comfort from the same dark-haired woman who was my queen, but now lost to me forever.’
Excerpt from my book ‘The Silverarm’
The painting illustrates an episode in my book ‘The Book of Conquests’, published in 1978 and depicts the fateful tryst between Nuada of the Silver Arm, king of the mystical Tuatha Dé Dannan, and his war-goddess lover, the Mórrigán, a sorcerous shapeshifter. She is here in human form to seduce Nuada and extract his secrets and plans for battle.
DAGDA AND THE WOMAN OF UINNIUS
This painting is one of my favourites from my book ‘The Silver Arm’, published first in 1981 and depicts the seduction of Dagda, the great ‘God of Plenty’ of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Here the Dagda spies on this beautiful woman health bathing in a stream and is drawn to her beauty. Little does he know she is a sorcerous prophetess and through his copulation with her he learns of the war plans of the enemy, the Fomór, led by their powerful wizard warlord, Balor of the Evil Eye. Thus, in the second and decisive battle of Moy Tura, the Tuatha Dé Danann were forewarned of the battle array of the Fomor by the Dagda and were able to defeat them finally.
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