Landscapes and Maps

The first collection of Dara Vallely Fine Art prints is composed of 3 maps of Ireland. These pieces form part of the critically acclaimed exhibition and publication ‘Laoch na Laochra’ by Dara Vallely and Réamonn Ó’Ciaráin. ‘Laoch na Laochra’ deals with the ancient stories from the ‘Táin Bó Cuailgne’ or Ulster Cycle of stories and its central archetypal hero, Cúchulainn.

The publication is a modern Ulster Irish version of these stories first written on vellum in the 7th Century by Irish monks. Vallely’s artwork offers further insight into the famous tales and shows a confidence in the existence of the invisible world and how the stories are fused through the landscape, place names and language.

“My aim was not to reproduce a map of Ireland of things seen but of things unseen, the invisible world. The hero is saying ‘I am Ireland’.

The image of Ireland as a human body; female, warrior, poet, druid, is striking; but not unusual.

The North represents its head, Armagh its heart. Its arms and other limbs embodies great energy. Thin veins worked by pilgrims, warriors carrying weapons, food.” DV

Each piece in this collection features the names of key points in the landscape of The Táin in their native Irish. As John Hewitt said, “You say the name, I see the place,” the placenames recorded in ‘Táin Bó Cuailgne’ have survived for millennia and evoke the shadow and memory of the past on the modern landscape.

Each print contains a certificate of authenticity, complete with a glossary of the places named on the print, their significance and where you can find them in modern day Ireland.