This was a moment in time at Toose McGearailt’s bonfire at ‘Teampall Geall’ on the 23rd of June 2022 our first fully open bonfire after lockdown.  We purged our demons in the fire and brought embers from the fire into the ‘bothán’ to bring good luck to the animals.  We took a dropeen of the ‘Fíon Geall an tSléibhe’ and, walking in ritual around the magic well or ‘Tobar’ and danced and sang until daylight around the fire to celebrate the longest days of the year.  It was magic.

Here we see someone send all his ‘gomh dearg’ or red rage into the flames to release them one of many personal rituals that took part that night.  I enjoyed building up texture on this canvas as well as working very freely and loosely with the paint to create mystery and loosen up the mark a bit.  It was an exciting piece to create and a moment captured in time.

Acrylic and oil on canvas.

Dimensions:

30.5 x cm H   X    25 cm W

Price: €395

© Áine Ní Chíobháin 2023