FEBRUARY  2006

8th February 2006

Door panels designed and painted for the McCabe family, Armagh.

6th February 2006

Door panels designed and painted for the Butler family, Randalstown.

2001

Queen Macha from the Armagh door.

A few years ago I was commissioned to decorate a large double doorway in a local tourist centre. The work consisted of over 20 panels depicting local mythological & historical figures. The figures were all intertwined together by many free-flowing knotworks with one main neverending band running throughout all of the panels.

Queen Macha Mon Ruad (the red-haired).

Founder of the Emain Macha,the spiritual capital of the ancient Celtic world & the home of the Red-Branch Knights. 

There are a number of myths and legends about Macha and her part to play in the naming of Armagh.

Ard-Macha-'the Height of Macha'.
Emain Macha - 'The Brooch of Macha' or 'the twins of Macha.'

These legends have some basis in historical fact. Macha is believed to have been the first reliably documented Irish ruler alongside her uncle King Cimbaoth, ruling around 300 BC.
Cimbaoth and his brothers, Aod Ruad and Dithorba had been ruling Ireland in turn for periods of seven years.

Aod Ruad drowned leaving his daughter, Macha, to take over for the remainder of his term. But she wanted more. Unwilling to step down from the throne she went to war with her uncles. She slayed Dithorba in battle and then defeated Cimbaoth. She then forced him to marry her so she could rule once more. Following his death she finally had the coplete power that she had craved.

She became the sole ruler and High-Queen of Ireland.