The Celtic Lovers

If you read stories from any mythology you will inevitably come across the ones concerning the lives and plights of ill-fated lovers.

The couples of the Celts are no exception. I'm not sure how many of these tales actually end happily, but I can't think of any off-hand. Maybe this is what people find so appealing about them, the fact that these heroes and heroines are mere mortals after all.

The tale of Oisin and Niamh (pronounced Osheen and Neeve) is very visual and for me, conjures up some amazing imagery.

When I was planning my depiction of this couple I hit all manner of problems in trying to illustrate a suitable background. Tir naN og or The Land of the Young as its name translates, is the Irish Celtic Otherworld. I tossed idea after idea over in my head trying to come up with something suitable, but nothing seemed to come halfway to being right. In the end I decided on the simplest of backgrounds . . . nothing, except a very slight shimmer of pencil around Niamh and her faery steed. This way, everyone who looks at this picture will see his or her own Tir naN og through the mist. Sometimes, less can be more when necessary.

In 'Deirdre and Naoise' (pronounced Deeadra and Neesha), I again decided on a plain background to enhance their cameo. This is the saddest time for Deirdre, as they have just sighted the boats belonging to Conchobar approaching Alba. Naoise is overjoyed, and wishes to welcome them with open arms, but Deirdres intuition tells her that this fated sight is the beginning of the end for them.

In 'Diarmuid and Grainne,' (pronounced Dermut and Groynia), I wanted to capture in Diarmuids face the spell of enchantment cast over him by his lover.

The woodland background is a scene from just one of their days together, as because of the vow laid down by Fionn Mac Cumhail, they were never to sleep for more than one night in the same place.

'Caer' and Aoghus' are two lovers whose totem animals are both birds. As the Celtic God of Love, Aonghus could always be seen with four birds encircling his head. Caer, was a shape-shifter, who spent so many nights a year as a swan amongst one hundred and fifty others.