In Irish mythology, the four children of Lear – Aodh, Fıonnghuala, Fıachra, and Conn – were turned into singing swans for 900 years by their step-mother Aoıfe, who is seen on the left riding away from the site of her stepchildrens’ metamorphosis at Loch Daırbhreach (in modern Co. Westmeath). They are then restored to human form by a Christian monk but, being 900 years old, die immediately.

“Lır” (in Irish) is the genitive of (the Irish) “Lear” and the story is often referred to in Irish as “Clann Lır“; neither “Lear” nor “Lır” is pronounced like the English “(King) Lear”.

Crocus Street, west Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00166

Núada and Morrígan (from Jim Fitzpatrick’s Beneath The Sky Of Stars) embrace below a ram (from Fitzpatrick’s Senach The Spectre) and between Celtic creatures inspired by the Book Of Kells.

This is a bright and colourful mural in stark contrast to the greys and browns of Unity flats, west Belfast

For many more images of Nuada, see the Visual History page on Jim Fitzpatrick.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1990 Paddy Duffy
T00173