As a child I spent many summers living with relatives on the Isle of Man,
Ellan Vannin,
and was told stories about Mannin by my Grandmother, who was a native Manx speaker.
The one I remember most clearly told how he would spread his cloak of mist and magic across the island to conceal it from invaders, especially my Grandmother stressed, the British monarchy!
During the past couple of days we have been marooned in a sea of mist and silence and I have
been inspired by her stories and the weather to post my painting of Manannán.
I recently stumbled across As Manx as the Hills on Facebook and also discovered the wonderful
statue of Manannán by the sculptor John Darren Sutton.
His god stands on Binevenagh Mountain,
Binn Fhoibhne, Co. Derry
overlooking Lough Foyle.
Local tradition tells of the presence of Manannán in the Lough and it was believed that his spirit
was released during fierce storms.
My painting of him illustrates him as a god of the sea, water, mists and magics.
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| More about my painting - HERE |
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| Flor, the model for my painting Manannán. |
1 The Isle of Man which takes it's name from Manannán can be seen on the horizon.
Above the island flies the crane, a bird associated with Manannán and his crane bag.
2 The god is also associated with lakes and several castles, such as Castle Mannin, Co. Mayo
and Mannin Castle, the remains of a ringfort, in Co. Monaghan.
This stands near a lough known as Mannin's Pool and local folklore tells that St. Patrick fought here with Manannán and defeated him by confining him to the water.
Manannán however escapes on occasion and has been seen by local people in the form of a hare.
3 The triskelion, the island's symbol known as the "three legs of Mann", Tree Cassyn Vannin.
4 He is also believed to inhabit
the isolated rock of Carrickmannon.
Found about 1 km offshore to the north east of Kinbane Head, Co. Antrim,
the rock is submerged and it is only at low tide when the waves break across it,
is Manannán's home visible.
5 Manannán offers the golden boat, part of the Broighter Hoard, found in 1896 and thought to be
a ritual offering the god when the area was underwater.
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The gold boat is on display in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin.
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| Photos of Broighter Hoard from Irish Archaeology HERE |
6 & 7
From the waves emerge Manannán's horse, Aonbharr and the Salmon of Wisdom
who lives in the well at Emhain Ablach, one of Manannán's home.
8 Manannán's boat journeys towards the Blessed Isles, to Tír Fo Thonn, the Land Beneath Wave and Tír Na Nog, the Land of Youth.
Manannán overlooking Lough Foyle:
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| Manannán by John Darren Sutton |
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| Manannán overlooking Lough Foyle by John Darren Sutton |
The work of sculptor John Darren Sutton can be found here -
JD SUTTON
Photographic prints of his work -
Here
You can also see him
here too.
