Cú Chulainn (The Hound of Chulainn) is the most famous hero from Irish mythology, the demi-god protagonist of our ancient epic The Táin.

I have always loved our mythological stories, especially his. Most myths tend to be crazy, but the story of the boy Setanta, who becomes the fearsome Cú Chulainn after killing a giant guard dog with a 'sliotar' (the ball from our Irish sport of Hurling) and his epically batsh*t rages known as 'Warp-spasms', was my favourite.

This is my version. I wanted to depict him in a new way - rangy and fierce and dangerous. And not entirely in control of his more violent impulses... He's not a villain, he's just slightly deranged.

His weapon is a 'Hurl' (the stick used in Hurling) but he is decked out with sockets and wires, placing him in my wider story universe.

This is the first image I made of him. The first in a series.

Minted on St Patricks Day, 2023.