The story.
This is a story from Irish mythology, rather than a documented episode of local history. Aonbharr is the extraordinary horse associated with Manannán mac Lir and Lugh, able to travel across water as well as land. The festival’s account connects the search for Lugh’s murdered father, Céin, with the Castletown River and the landscape outside Dundalk.
Mister Copy places the tale within his Modern Mythology series. His published artist statement describes bringing ancient gods and goddesses into a contemporary world. The mural invites you to recognise a familiar landscape through a much older way of storytelling.
Aonbharr was a mythical horse with magical powers who could traverse both land and sea as quick as the wind ‘ar nós na gaoithe’!
Long ago in ancient Ireland - when the Tuatha Dé Danann roamed, and the land was steeped in magic, gods and mythic creatures - there lived a man by the name of Céin Mac Cáinte. He was father to the legendary Lugh (Lú), God of Light, War and Master of the Arts, and Céin was also grandfather to Ireland’s greatest warrior Cúchulainn, renowned for his incredible strength and skill in battle.
In all the great mythological stories and throughout the Celtic world, horses held a place of deep significance and meaning for our ancestors. There are none however, as magnificent, nor held so cherished a place in Irish mythology, as Aonbharr of the flowing mane! It was Manannán mac Lir, the Sea God, who bestowed this legendry steed upon Lugh.
According to the great epic The Sons of Tureann there was a huge battle between the Tuatha Dé Dannan and the Fomorians, the Tuatha Dé were victorious and after the battle Lugh surveyed the land in search of his father Céin. When he couldn’t find him among the living or the dead, an eerie feeling came upon him that something tragic may have occurred. Without delay, he leapt upon his mighty steed Aonbharr and flew with lightning speed in search of his father Céin.
This journey took him across the Plains of Muirthemne, over the river Níth (Castletown River) arriving at Killin Hill just outside of Dundalk. It was on this fateful hill that Aonbharr was drawn to a cairn of stones, these stones began to cry out and speak to Lugh – they spoke about the sons of Tuireann, and the dishonourable murder his father had endured. It was beneath this cairn he discovered the lifeless body of Céin, which set in motion a chain of events that led to The Quest of the Sons of Tuireann.
These myths and stories and countless others, such as the Táin Bó Cúailnge, were handed down in oral traditions for centuries. We are truly fortunate that around the town of Dundalk, and throughout County Louth, place names linked to these epic warriors and events still endure. Though these stories come from ancient times, they have left a lasting mark upon the land. To this day, the townland where this tragic death occurred bears the name ‘Kane’ - a tribute to Céin Mac Cáinte.
Even now you can almost hear the wind whispering the old stories of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the Morrígan, Lugh, and Cúchulainn.
Sincere thanks to Frank Short, whose invaluable insight and assistance during the research stage truly brought the mural's story to life.
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