Kilclooney Dolmen, Ardara, Co. Donegal

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Mini Inish
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The piece dimensions are: approx 3.5″ high/ 6″ across. 3 dimensional piece which can be displayed in all 360 degrees. The beautiful Kilclooney dolmen in West Donegal dates from c.3500 BC. Its impressive capstone measures 13-feet wide, 20-feet long and stands over six feet high. This makes it one of the largest and heaviest examples in Europe weighing in at over 100 tonnes! The massive capstone looks different from every angle and some say it resembles a bird taking to flight, a whale, a dolphin, and even an alligator. The lower end of the capstone is unusually supported by an extra back stone which is believed to have been built into the design to allow extra light to shine into the tomb. There is a court tomb nearby and a smaller dolmen which has partly collapsed. This area of ardara in Donegal is Ireland at its most magical. To view more pieces please visit our store at Mini Inish

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Finecast plasterwork Burt Castle atop an Inishowen Coastline base. Dimensions: 7″ X 7″ X 3″. Tabletop ornamental piece. Burt Castle, also known as O’Doherty’s Castle, was constructed between 1560 and 1580. It was a traditional stronghold of the O’Doherty’s during the reign of Henry VIII, overlooking and protecting the Southern edge of their Inishowen Lordship. The castle’s design is typical of the Scottish Z-Plan fortification structure, a defensive design that would be replicated during the Ulster Plantation in the following century. In 1600, while Cahir O’Doherty was in allegiance to the Crown, there was a garrison of 100 men stationed in the castle under the captainship of John Vaughan. This aided the Derry Governor, Henry Dowcra, to strengthen an offensive position against Red Hugh O’Donnell during the Nine Years War. O’Doherty, however, fell out of favour with Dowcra and Burt Castle became O’Doherty’s headquarters, from where he orchestrated and carried out the Burning of Derry on April 19th, 1608, sacking the entire town and taking prisoners to be held at the castle. Thus began what became known as O’Doherty’s Rebellion, resulting in Crown troops being sent from Dublin to quell the unrest in Inishowen and overrun Cahir’s positions. Burt Castle fell to the Crown following a violent siege and O’Doherty was killed shortly afterwards while fighting Crown Forces in the Battle of Kilmacrennen, he was 21 years old at the time of his death. His severed head was displayed for a time at Newgate, Dublin, as a warning to potential avengers. The castle was also the site of violent skirmishes during the Williamite Wars between 1688-1691 and as with most Irish castles, Burt is said to be haunted. It is said that an O’Doherty Nobleman who lived in the castle seduced a young local woman and forsook her upon news of her pregnancy. She waded into the Swilly one moonlit night and drowned herself and her unborn child, so distraught was she at this rejection. It is said that she can be seen on moonlit nights, walking the shores of the Swilly near to the Castle, wailing in despair for her estranged lover and father of her child. Burt Castle now sits atop an eminence known as Castlehill, a silent, dilapidated sentinel overlooking the main Derry to Letterkenny road, making it one of Donegal’s most recognizable fortifications.
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These beautiful, highly authentic Ogham stones are created from scratch in ceramic clay and can be personalised with the name or words of your choice. They come presented in a crystal clear glass cloche set upon a dark wood base. Dimensions - 17cm high, 15ch wide at base. Please allow approx 4-6 days due to curing/drying processes. 
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Handcrafted, handpainted piece, stands 6" high, 4.5" wide. Thorwald’s Cross, Isle of Man Located at Church Andreas on the Isle of Man, this fragment of a Viking Slab Cross is dated by Rundata to 940 AD. It is a very unique artefact, in that it appears to represent an example of ‘Syncretic Art’ created during a short period of time when both Pagan and Christian belief systems coexisted. It is also unique for bearing the inscription of the erector of the original monument; ‘Porvaldr raised this cross’, with its present title representing this. The cross shows what is believed to be the father of the Norse gods, Odin, being consumed by the wolf, Fenrir, at the events of Ragnarok, signalling the end to the story of the Norse Pantheon. This is significant as it may reveal the conversion point from Paganism to Christianity, with the Christian god rising to prominence following the destruction of the Pagan gods at the mythical battle of Ragnarok. The bird at Odin’s shoulder is thought to be either Huginn or Muninn, Odin’s loyal ravens, whose attachment to Odin have led to him being commonly referred to as ‘The Raven God’.
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Handcrafted, highly detailed plasterwork An Grianan of Aileach. Looks, feels and weighs like genuine stone! Handcrafted plasterwork An Grianan sculpture, measuring approx. 8″ across, 3.5″ high. weight: 1.4kg The origins of the Grianán of Aileach fort are dated back to 1700 BC. It is linked to the Tuatha de Danann who invaded Ireland before the Celts and built stone forts on top of strategic hills. They worshipped Dagda (the Good God) and he too is associated with the origins of Aileach. It was he who ordered the building of a stone fort to act as a burial monument to his dead son. The round fort is built largely without mortar. The interior has three terraces and wooden structures were built against the terraces to provide accommodation. The outline of Bronze Age or Iron Age ramparts can be seen below the fort. Legend states that the giants of Inishowen are lying sleeping but when the sacred sword is removed they will spring to life reclaiming their ancient lands. It is thought that St Patrick visited the site in the 5th century and baptised the local chieftain, Eoghan (from whom Inis Eoghan gets its name), here. To view more pieces please visit our store at Mini Inish
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