The Bantry Boat

The Bantry Boat depicts four oarsmen and a coxwain rowing through a sea of crosses.  This is thought to be one of the earliest depictions of a traditional Irish Currach, the skin covered boat that St. Brendan the Navigator may have used on his legendary voyage to the Amer u cas.

Some see a different story in this image: a link back to ancient Egypt, where the boat might represent the ship of Isis, carrying the souls of the dead to the other world.

Equally interesting is the story of Cesair, who was the granddaughter of Noah. Having being denied entry to the Ark, she set about building three boats of her own. Two of the boats were lost at sea in heavy storms. The last boat came ashore at Donemark, just outside Bantry town. 50 women and three men on board. Legend has it that one man died of exhaustion, one had a breakdown and the third became a hermit.

14" x 10" cross stitched on black aida, mounted and framed.