"The Love Birds and the Legend of the Claddagh"

"The Love Birds and the Legend of the Claddagh"... 12x24" Oil on wood, Finished work by Bernie Rosage Jr. for the Enchanting Ireland Collection, 6-2009.

Click on image to enlarge...


The Claddagh ring is a traditional Irish ring, given in friendship or worn as a wedding ring. The design and customs associated with it originated in the Irish fishing village of Claddagh, located just outside the old walls of the city of Galway.
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Our special trip to Ireland was in celebration of our 20th Wedding Anniversary. We were united in marriage May 22, 1988 at Muddy Creek Falls, Maryland. This trip was the honeymoon we never had twenty years ago.
~
In recognition of this special event we renewed our wedding vows and exchanged Claddagh rings in the small village of Claddagh on the Galway Bay.
~
Níl aon leigheas ar an ngrá ach pósadh.
(The only cure for love is marriage.)




We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. ~ T. S. Eliot quote that was part of our original vows then and now...




Our view from the special spot we renewed our vows. Just as we (the love birds) finished... these two beautiful love birds showed up...



The Claddagh's distinctive design features two hands clasping a heart, and usually surmounted by a crown. The elements of this symbol are often said to correspond to the qualities of love (the heart), friendship (the hands), and loyalty (the crown). The expression which was associated with these symbols in the giving of the ring was: "With my hands I give you my heart, and crown it with my love."
~
Thomas Dillon's in Galway City is the home to the original Claddagh ring and is still in business. These photos were taken of the signs on the building.



Some of thier famous clients...
John Wayne
Bing Crosby
Walt Disney
Princess Grace Kelly
Prince Rainear of Monaco
Gabriel Byrne
Mia Farrow
Barry Fitzgerald
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Director John Huston
Athlete Sonia O'Sullivan
Queen Victoria
George Kellogg
King George V
King Edward
Lady Dudley
Queen Alexandria
Actress Maureen O'Hara
Winston Churchill



The way that a Claddagh ring is worn on the hand is usually intended to convey the wearer's romantic availability, or lack thereof. Traditionally, if the ring is on the right hand with the design facing outward and away from the body, this indicates that the person wearing the ring is not in any serious relationship, and may in fact be single and looking for a relationship. When worn on the right hand but with the design facing inward toward the body, this indicates the person wearing the ring is in a relationship, or that "someone has captured their heart". A Claddagh worn on the left hand ring finger, facing outward away from the body, generally indicates that the wearer is engaged. When the ring is on the left hand ring finger and facing inward toward the body, it generally means that the person wearing the ring is married.
~


Check out this video of an Irish singer with a beautiful voice singing about the legend of the Claddagh Ring...

"Galway Hooker"

I realize this title sounds a bit provocative... especially to an American becoming acquainted with a Galway Hooker for the first time. Before our trip to Ireland a friend told me to be sure to take photos of the Galway Hookers when we visited the Western Shore knowing I would love to paint them as a subject... my jaw dropped as I seemed perplexed... she then told me to go home and google "Galway Hooker"... the joke was on me! I've had a fascination with Galway Hookers ever since!

"Galway Hooker" by Bernie Rosage Jr. 10x8" Oil on Panel, 3-2009.
Click on image to enlarge.

Check out these videos to see some real Galway Hookers in action...
Interview from Sailing Documentary by Joleen Cronin


Seoltóireacht Ghéar TG4
Promotional video about a new Galway Hooker Series on TG4

"Galway Hooker at Sunset on Galway Bay" by Bernie Rosage Jr.

A lone Galway Hooker cuts the wind and water as it heads out past The Long Walk and into the Galway Bay at sunset. This impressionistic painting was inspired by the beauty of the spot where my wife and I exchanged Claddagh rings... read all about it... "Love Birds" exchange Claddagh Rings...
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Click on images to enlarge...

"Galway Hooker at Sunset on Galway Bay"... County Galway, Ireland... 16x36"... Oil on panel by artist Bernie Rosage Jr., 2009.

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Finished work for the Enchanting Ireland series...

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Close-ups...

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Check out these youtube videos of some great songs about Galway Bay...

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"My Own Galway Bay" by Dolores Keane

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"Galway Bay" by Bing Crosby

Máirín Fahy and "Trad on the Prom"... Galway

Tami and I had the pleasure of seeing on of the greatest Irish shows in my opinion while in Galway... "Trad on the Prom"... featuring several top ranked dancers and musicians including Máirín Fahy. I thoroughly enjoyed Máirín's fiddle playing while Tami loved her sister, Yvonne's amazing talent on the Bodhran, a percussion instrument. If you are ever in Galway... do NOT miss this show! One of the coolest things they mentioned was that the Irish traditional music is still alive and well in the mountains of North Carolina. They even played an Irish reel that crossed over into our old time mountain music and into our modern day blue grass.

Trad on the Prom, true to it's name, is the best of Irish traditional live entertainment, performed in the new conference center of the Salthill Hotel, located on the seafront promenade over looking Galway Bay and the Clare Hills.

The Band
The Trad on the Prom band comprises of the finest musicians on the Irish music scene today.The band includes Gerard Fahy on uileann pipes, Chris Kelly on guitar, Yvonne Fahy on accordion and percussion, Brendan Hayes on keyboard and guest musicians Brian Morrissey, Padraig Rynn and Kieran Munnelly on concertina, flute, banjo and additional percussion.
SOURCE:http://www.tradontheprom.com/show.html

The video below is an interview with the "Trad on the Prom" members discussing the music, dancing, and success of the event...

Spotlight Galway- Trad on the Prom


Finale from Trad On The Prom At Milwaukee Irish Fest

"Low Tide at The Long Walk" by Bernie Rosage Jr.

"Low Tide at The Long Walk"... County Galway, Ireland... 11x14"... Oil on stretched canvas by artist Bernie Rosage Jr., 10-2008.

Finished work for the Enchanting Ireland series...

Click on image to enlarge....

"Galway Hooker #1"... small oil painting.

"Galway Hooker #1"... 6x8" Oil on Belgian Linen on panel, alla prima, 8-2008. "Enchanting Ireland" series, 8-2008.

This painting is for sale... Click HERE to find out about the availability of this painting. Will ship to Ireland!

Click on image to see a larger view...

Galway City was one of our favorite places on our recent visit to Ireland. The bay has a beauty all its own... especially when the Hookers are out and about. I know what you're thinking... I thought the same thing when a friend said that I had to photograph and paint a Galway Hooker... I thought to myself "what kind of tour did Tami book?". The friend told me to go home and google "Galway Hooker"... the laugh was on me... they are a beautiful sailing vessel unique to the west coast of Ireland and the Galway Bay. This small painting was for a study of the sailing vessel for a large painting I am working on of Galway Bay... expect a few more of these small studies of Hookers in the future.

These small paintings are inspired from my recent trip to Ireland... in most cases they are studies for larger works for a solo exhibit titled "Enchanting Ireland" that will debut August 2009 at the Baysden Gallery.

This painting, on a Belgian Linen on panel with painted sides, is easily framed or displayed with a decorative easel.

All my paintings are signed originals using artist grade oils and archival surfaces. "Certificate of Authenticity" included.

Galway Girl...

Tami and I must have heard Steve Earl's song "Galway Girl" a dozen times as we explored Galway City. We heard it at Máirín Fahy and Band's concert at the Trad on the Prom... and we heard it played by local busker's playing on the streets for tips.

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Here's a snapshot of my favorite "Galway Girl"...

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Enjoy this live video of "Galway Girl" performed by Steve Earl with Sharon Shannon....

Who let the DOGS out?!... Irish dogs have moxie!

Out tour guide, Allie, mentioned that men from County Kerry referred to as "Kerry Men" had a certain presence and charm... here in the south we call it swagger or moxie. We found it to be true with our Jaunting Car driver Billy and also with a sheep herder/dog trainer named Brenden Ferris (pictured below). In fact... he had the charisma and looks of Tom Selick. In addition to being a dog trainer, Brenden owns the Kells Sheep Centre. He has won awards from shepherding competitions all over Ireland. We had the pleasure of seeing Brenden and his dogs in action...



He impressed us with his knowledge and skill in working his Border Collie sheepdogs. These dogs were amazing... with a whistle here and there Brenden was able to get them to do anything.



A certain whistle would have them separate the sheep into groups, another would bring them down the slopes, etc... These dogs were well trained and very smart...



probably the smartest dogs I ever saw until...



I saw this one on the streets of Galway City reading a storefront sign...



Seems even the dogs in Ireland have swagger and moxie...
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swag·ger –verb (used without object)
1. to walk or strut with a defiant or insolent air.
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mox·ie –noun Slang.
1. vigor; verve; pep.
2. courage and aggressiveness; nerve.
3. skill; know-how.
[Origin: 1925–30, Americanism; after Moxie, a trademark (name of a soft drink)]
~

Here is a video of a sheep herding demonstration by Brenden and his dogs at his Kells Sheep Centre, County Kerry.

Kells Sheep Centre

The "Love Birds" exchange Claddagh Rings...

"The Love Birds and the Legend of the Claddagh"... 12x24" Oil on wood, Finished work by Bernie Rosage Jr. for the Enchanting Ireland Collection, 6-2009.

Click on image to enlarge...


The Claddagh ring is a traditional Irish ring, given in friendship or worn as a wedding ring. The design and customs associated with it originated in the Irish fishing village of Claddagh, located just outside the old walls of the city of Galway.
~
Our special trip to Ireland was in celebration of our 20th Wedding Anniversary. We were united in marriage May 22, 1988 at Muddy Creek Falls, Maryland. This trip was the honeymoon we never had twenty years ago.
~
In recognition of this special event we renewed our wedding vows and exchanged Claddagh rings in the small village of Claddagh on the Galway Bay.
~
Níl aon leigheas ar an ngrá ach pósadh.
(The only cure for love is marriage.)




We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. ~ T. S. Eliot quote that was part of our original vows then and now...




Our view from the special spot we renewed our vows. Just as we (the love birds) finished... these two beautiful love birds showed up...



The Claddagh's distinctive design features two hands clasping a heart, and usually surmounted by a crown. The elements of this symbol are often said to correspond to the qualities of love (the heart), friendship (the hands), and loyalty (the crown). The expression which was associated with these symbols in the giving of the ring was: "With my hands I give you my heart, and crown it with my love."
~
Thomas Dillon's in Galway City is the home to the original Claddagh ring and is still in business. These photos were taken of the signs on the building.



Some of thier famous clients...
John Wayne
Bing Crosby
Walt Disney
Princess Grace Kelly
Prince Rainear of Monaco
Gabriel Byrne
Mia Farrow
Barry Fitzgerald
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Director John Huston
Athlete Sonia O'Sullivan
Queen Victoria
George Kellogg
King George V
King Edward
Lady Dudley
Queen Alexandria
Actress Maureen O'Hara
Winston Churchill



The way that a Claddagh ring is worn on the hand is usually intended to convey the wearer's romantic availability, or lack thereof. Traditionally, if the ring is on the right hand with the design facing outward and away from the body, this indicates that the person wearing the ring is not in any serious relationship, and may in fact be single and looking for a relationship. When worn on the right hand but with the design facing inward toward the body, this indicates the person wearing the ring is in a relationship, or that "someone has captured their heart". A Claddagh worn on the left hand ring finger, facing outward away from the body, generally indicates that the wearer is engaged. When the ring is on the left hand ring finger and facing inward toward the body, it generally means that the person wearing the ring is married.
~


Check out this video of an Irish singer with a beautiful voice singing about the legend of the Claddagh Ring...

Small Study: Galway Hooker #1

"Galway Hooker #1"... 6x8" Oil on Belgian Linen on panel, alla prima, 8-2008. Small study for my "Enchanting Ireland".



Galway City was one of our favorite places on our recent visit to Ireland. The bay has a beauty all its own... especially when the Hookers are out and about. I know what you're thinking... I thought the same thing when a friend said that I had to photograph and paint a Galway Hooker... I thought to myself "what kind of tour did Tami book?". The friend told me to go home and google "Galway Hooker"... the laugh was on me... they are a beautiful sailing vessel unique to the west coast of Ireland and the Galway Bay. This small painting was for a study of the sailing vessel for a large painting I am working on of Galway Bay... expect a few more of these small studies of Hookers in the future.

This small painting is for sale... check on its availability HERE...

Small Study: Galway Bay #1... A View from Claddagh

"Galway Bay #1... A View from Claddagh"... 6x8" Oil on panel, alla prima, 7-2008. Small study for my "Enchanting Ireland" series that will exhibit August 2009.

Click on image to enlarge...



This scene of the bay is viewed from the small village of Claddagh... a small fishing village known worldwide for the Claddagh ring. This spot was special for Tami and I because we exchanged Claddagh rings and renewed our wedding vows here in celebration of our 20th wedding anniversary... the reason for our special trip to Ireland.

This small painting is for sale... check on its availability HERE...