I have learned every slate owns unique personality with its grain and thickness . Lu was hand carved from a single piece of reclaimed 200 year old Blue Bangor slate. Blue Bangor being the best quality there is.

The sense of age and strength the slate possessed put me in mind of the ancient heroes of Irish Mythology, in particular Lu (Lugh). Lu was a high king and leading deity of the Celts. As the month of August in the English tongue is named after the Roman Emperor Augustus so in Gaeilge it is called Lughnasadh in honour of Lu.

Traditionally in Ireland festivals were held on the 1st of the month, as a chance to celebrate Summer’s end before beginning the hard work of the harvests as featured in Brian Friel’s “Dancing at Lughnasa”

The endless Celtic knot carving framing the mirror is symbolic of the eternal cycle of life, the interweaving of time and spirit.

I first started carving slate about ten years ago. I made a gift for a friend and then people began asking for commissioned pieces. I am self taught and have developed my own techniques to work by hand with slate on its own terms!

There will be another slate tomorrow until then

Go raibh maith agat