The Children of Lir is an ancient Irish legend about Lir’s four children, who are cursed by their jealous stepmother, and transformed into swans for 900 years. They spend 300 years on Lough Derravaragh, 300 on the Sea of Moyle and 300 on the waters of the Atlantic, enduring loneliness and hardship while remaining bound together by their love for one another. Eventually, the curse is broken when the sound of Christian bells reaches them, but upon returning to human form, they are aged and frail, and soon die. It is a haunting tale of love, loss, resilience and the enduring bond of family, set against the beauty and wildness of the Irish landscape.

This Cloisonne necklace depicts the swans in flight as they leave Lough Derravarragh to make their journey to the sea of Moyle. Made using Japanese glass enamels, sterling and fine silver, and set with a brandy citrine.