Tuan the Stag

The Tale of Tuan mac Cairill

Hand-coloured woodcut and monoprint

The Tale of Tuan is a mythologized history of Ireland from the earliest days of human settlement up until the beginning of the Christian era. It is told from the point of view of Tuan mac Cairill, who transforms from his human form first into a stag, then a boar, then a sea-eagle, then a salmon, before finally being reborn as a human baby.

These woodcuts were created as part of an illustration project in 2006. They are each a combination of printed colour, hand-tinting with watercolour or oil paints, and some monoprint.

Tuan the Boar Tuan the Eagle