The Cailleach’s Throne

The Cailleach's Throne was inspired by the dramatic mountain known as Hags Leap in the Glenade Valley, County Leitrim. It is a place long associated in Irish folklore with the Cailleach, the ancient divine hag or Queen of Winter. In myth, she is said to have shaped the mountains and valleys of Ireland, leaving her presence etched into the landscape itself.

What drew me to paint this mountain was its extraordinary form. Rising steeply from the valley, it possesses a powerful, sculptural presence that feels both ancient and timeless.

It is easy to understand why generations have woven stories around its silhouette. Whether viewed simply as a remarkable landscape or as a place touched by myth, it invites the imagination to wander.

Rather than creating a literal depiction, I wanted to convey the mountain's quiet authority, its sense of endurance through centuries of weather, legend and human history. Rich textures and layered colour echo the rugged beauty of the land, while allowing space for the viewer to discover their own connection with it.

For me, this painting celebrates the unique way Irish landscapes hold both physical beauty and cultural memory. It is an invitation to pause, to look closely and to experience a place where nature and mythology seem to exist side by side.