Queen Maebh - mug

Queen Maebh is one of our foremost female figures in Irish mythology, playing a lead role in the Táin Bó Cúailgne (Cattle raid of Cooley), where she led her army to fight the men of Ulster and another famous character of Irish folklore, Cúchulainn. According to tradition, she is buried in a large cairn on top of Knocknarea in Co. Sligo, standing upright in full armour and facing her enemies in the North. In this image, I have portrayed her battle ready as we watch the sun setting behind her mountain of Knocknarea.

Illustration from an original by Margaret McKenna