The Mantle of Manannan
watercolour – 1995 - 35x52cm

Riding his horse ‘Enbarr’ – (meaning ‘of the waves’ or ‘Sea Foam’) is Manannan Mac Lir, the ancient Manx sea-god, connected through the mists to other worlds.

He is holding his sword, ‘Answerer’ which he later gave to Lugh. It is said that whom-soever looked upon the sword of Manannan, would immediately turn as weak as a 100 year old woman with a debilitating disease making them whither and die, therefore my depiction of Answerer grew a reptilian/serpentine entity, moving and changing to keep his eye on the foe, always on pure target. Manannan’s cloak turned the many colours of the sea and brought him invisibility.

Manannan is the son of Lir, and his wife, Fand also has strong associations with the realm of water. He gives his name to the Isle of Man, being one of the oldest names in this particular part of Manx and Celtic history, and is linked with the Tuatha De Dannan, (Peoples of Danu). The Tuatha De Dannan arrived in strange flying ships, and are now living in the faery mounds, in Tir Na Nog, the land of eternal youth.