Award winning international poet Moyra Donaldson from County Down has had a lifelong involvement with horses, as has Wexford-based, equine artist Paddy Lennon. They have come together in an artistic collaboration called Blood Horses, a limited edition book where words and images combine to evoke the history of our human relationship with these beautiful creatures.
Central to the book is the story of the three Arab stallions that were the founding fathers of the modern thoroughbred, The Byerley Turk, The Darley Arabian and the Godolphin Barb. All three stallions have interesting stories and the Byerley Turk has local connections, winning at Downpartick Races before being ridden at the Battle of the Boyne by his owner, Captain Robert Byerley.
This stunning book also looks at the part horses play in the lives of those who work with them and ride them, the glories and tragedies of partnership our with them and their effect on us. Running alongside the book is an exhibition of Paddy’s art works.
The exhibition and book were launched at Aspects Festival in Bangor and then moved to Downpatrick Racecourse for the closing meeting of the season. It will next be in the fantastic venue of the RDS Library in Dublin, opening on 18th November as part of the Dublin Book Festival.
If you are interested in purchasing a copy of this limited edition book of only 200 copies, signed by both artists, you can purchase by contacting Moyra at:
or at info@caesurapress.co.uk
A paperback edition of the book will be available in November and can be pre-ordered for Christmas.
Moyra Donaldson is one of Northern Ireland’s leading poets and a wide range of her work and various critiques etc can be found on an internet search on Google. She has been a very prolific poet winning a number of awards and honours.
