The Madness of King Sweeney

Details:
Sweeney McColman was a 7thCentury King of Dál Riada. After the battle of Magh Rath (637AD) he flung Saint Ronán Finn into the muddy waters of Lough Meelagh in a fit of anger. For this he was condemned to wander Ireland longing for human company but driven to despair by humankind.

After wandering Ireland for many years keeping company with the birds of the air and leaping naked from treetop to treetop King Sweeney finally found himself on the shores of Lough Dhá Gé (Two goose lake) high in the BallyGawley mountains of Sligo atop Sliabh Dhá éan (Two bird hill).

There he met the Cailleach Bhearra (The old woman of winter) who chased him around the rocky shore before turning the both of them into geese and diving into the black waters of the mountain lake.

Down, down, down they dove. Nine miles deeper than hell they dove, until the Mad King heard the Old woman’s whispering in his ear “Have you fled far enough Sweeney?” she whispered. Sweeney looked back at the dwindling light far above and replied “ I think I have.” With that he found himself back on the lake shore wrapped in a warm coat with a lantern to light his way, his sanity restored but missing an eye, snow covered the ground and the old woman was nowhere to be seen.

MALE SYMBOLISM:        HERO, KING, SAGE THE AGES OF MAN, MORTALITY

FEMALE SYMBOLISM: THE WOMAN OF WINTER, TIME & SPACE,

MOTHER OF THE FLOCKS AND THE HERDS

ASTRONOMY:      CYGNUS THE GOOSE FLIES INTO THE NORTH

BELOW THE HORIZON BRINGING WINTER.

Dimensions:
(W180mm x H210mm, 7inches x 8.25inches) Irish hardwood beech or ash