Description
“The Galactic Chieftain” – An Astral Guardian
Some sentinels watch over roads. This one watches over the cosmos.
In the quiet darkness near Boyle, the majestic form of Maurice Harron’s *Gaelic Chieftain*—a familiar landmark heralding the journey’s end for countless travellers—stands not just against the Irish sky, but within the heart of our galaxy. In this single 20-second exposure, time condenses into a moment of pure magic. The arm of the Milky Way arcs over the sculpture like a celestial river of ancient light, while a solitary shooting star, a fleeting wish made solid, etches a path beside its timeless silhouette.
Fortune smiled twice that night. Beyond the planned dance of starlight, a passing car on the road below offered a breath of earthly illumination, gently painting the Chieftain’s form and deepening its majestic presence against the infinite. For many of us in Sligo, passing this figure has long been a ritual, a whispered promise to children that “the Chieftain will protect us now that we are home.” Here, that promise is elevated to a cosmic scale. He is no longer just a marker on the N4, but an eternal guardian standing between our world and the wonders above, a bridge between local legend and universal awe.
This image is available as a stunning fine art print, where the deep velvety blacks of the night meet the luminous detail of the galactic core.
Printed on premium archival paper or luminous acrylic, it transforms any wall into a window to that enchanted night of May 1, 2019, in Doon, Co. Roscommon.
To commission this piece for your home or to discuss custom print formats, please contact me directly at edleeprints@gmail.com.
A note: The panoramic version of this scene, “Galactic Chieftain” can also be viewed here on my site.
