A Tri Cu Fian
The Irish have a saying - “half in jest and full in earnest”. The translation of the Gaelic ‘a tri cu fian’ (pr, a tree ku fi’an) is literally “a three dog night.” Like the monks who doodled cats chasing mice onto pages of the Book of Kells, it is just a bit of Celtic humor, but none the less attractive for all that. The three dogs pursue one another around a central ring while surrounded by repeating knot patterns on the outer perimeter. Dogs are a Celtic symbol of strength and loyalty. A circle, by definition, is perfect. What better expression of perfection than the combination of truly benevolent strength and enduring loyalty.
Black and white on deep river blue shirt with single color image between shoulder blades. Unisex sizes Sm – 2XL. Price $19.00. |
Birds of Plenty
Going to a public school in upper New York State I thought the Pilgrims had invented the Horn of Plenty. Little did I know the overflowing basket is a fairly universal symbol of good harvest and bounty. In this design, placed at the celebration of Samhain (what we now call Halloween), the bird represents freedom from worldly concern. The horn, open end up, holds a wealth of blessings. Were it to be pictured upside down, it would presage lean times and even disaster. But this bird brings good news. Our wish for you: may all your horns be full, all your harvests bountiful and your heart ever filled with gratitude for those blessings. And in that frame of mind, you might even become a blessing to someone else. It could happen.
Deep maroon on a harvest gold garment washed tee and long sleeve tee. Unisex sizes Sm – 2XL. Price for short sleeve $19.00. Long sleeve $22.00. |
Dog Eat Dog World
“And isn’t this just a hard life, then? Why just this very mornin’ didn’t I see two birds, and both of them walkin’?” my old grandfather, Percy Holohan, used to say. Ach! ‘Tis a hard life and always has been, ever since things went sour back in the Garden. Why, some even say that’s why the monks kept drawing those birds and dogs all trying to take a nip out each other. It may be better they’d have taken a nip of the ‘creature’ to mellow their mood and improve their singing voices. It could take the mind off of what a dog eat dog world this is – at least for a while.
Brown and black on natural. Unisex sizes Sm – 2XL. Price $19.00. |
Ossian’s Cucormiac
Cucormiac is Gaelic for wolfhound. The marvelous, majestic Irish wolfhound. So large the leprechauns can run on each other's shoulders beneath a wolfhound pup. The grand bard Ossian, son of the famous Fionn mac Cumhaill, wrote of them:
An eye of sloe, with ear set low,
with horse's breast, with depth of chest,
with breadth of loin and curve in groin,
and nape set far behind the head
such were the dogs that Fingal bred.
Here a magnificent hound stands proudly encircled by a 3-stand braided border. To the Irish, the Wolfhound is an icon of the majesty of bygone days and a promise of glory to return. Undisturbed, the Wolfhound is quiet and gentle. Provoked, it can bring down creatures larger and seemingly more powerful than itself.
Black on tan. Unisex sizes Sm – 2XL. Price $19.00.
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The Celts
Zoomorphic designs (animal pictures) such as these wolfhounds, appear frequently in classic Irish, Scottish (Pictish) and Welsh (Cymru) art. Here, these two fine specimens, reminiscent of the legendary hounds of Finn McCool, form opposing end pieces to an inscription that proudly proclaims “The Celts”. Finn’s two dogs accompanied him through many of his grand adventures. May these two fine animals accompany you on many of your’s.
Black and pale stone green on olive green shirt. Unisex sizes Sm - 2XL. Price $19.00 |
The Dragon’s Power
In the time before Christ the Celts covered all of northern Europe and Celtic influence is still evident in a great deal of Scandinavian and Germanic design. In "The Dragons" a Norse vision of fierce two-headed dragons face off against one another in this stylized knot. The center is the core of power and the dragons radiate outward where, removed from the central power, each turns on another in aggression - seemingly unaware that their fates are all as inextricably intertwined as are their bodies. Sound familiar?
Black and white on either river blue or gray tee. Unisex sizes Sm – 2XL. Price $19.00. |
Kilkenny Dragans
Blessed Columbcille placed Patrick’s relics in a shrine some 3 score years after his death. Among them was one of Patrick’s many bells, this one in particular had engraved upon it a serpentine dragan beastie. It was believed, and is probably true, that he drove the snakes from the island by use of a bell, the noise purer and more holy than the snakes could bare. Whether they actually fled to England and were given refuge by the Monarchy is a matter of opinion. This mandella showns the dragons (Irish for dragon) chasing each other in confusion, trying to flee. In the center 4 two-headed dragons tangle with each other, as dragans are often wont to do - at least that’s what I’ve heard. Why Kilkenny? Because my grandfather told me that’s where the last snake was found, hiding under an English Lord’s hat. |
Pewter Birds
What to say about this lovely pair of herons. Appearing to be wrought in silver, they show a frozen gracefulness not usually associated with the long legged, long billed water bird. The heron stands in the shallows and waits, and waits, until a fish approaches, then strikes swiftly and accurately – a fish on its bill.
When disturbed, the heron takes a few awkward steps and begins to flap its large wings – looking for all the world like some clumsy professor, knees and elbows and academic robes flapping in all directions, not seeming to get anywhere. But then, as if by a miracle, it takes the air, gliding over the surface of the water and up to where it will soar above the interruptions and distractions of life on the surface.
My hope for you as you wear this most comfortable of shirts is that your grace will be seen when least expected and that you will always have the wings to lift your feet from the mud and send you soaring wherever your heart will take you. Bon voyage! |
