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| Game of Thrones sculptor's sea god statue stolen from mountain | Game of Thrones sculptor's sea god statue stolen from mountain |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Mystery surrounds the disappearance of a six-foot sculpture of a Celtic sea god from a mountainside. | Mystery surrounds the disappearance of a six-foot sculpture of a Celtic sea god from a mountainside. |
| Manannán Mac Lir, which is made out of fibre glass and stainless steel, was stolen from Binevenagh Mountain near Limavady in County Londonderry. | Manannán Mac Lir, which is made out of fibre glass and stainless steel, was stolen from Binevenagh Mountain near Limavady in County Londonderry. |
| The statue had became a popular tourist attraction in the area since its installation about a year ago. | The statue had became a popular tourist attraction in the area since its installation about a year ago. |
| Sculptor John Sutton, who has worked on the award-winning Game of Thrones series, has spoken of his shock. | Sculptor John Sutton, who has worked on the award-winning Game of Thrones series, has spoken of his shock. |
| 'Unreal' | |
| He said it would have taken a number of men with angle grinders several hours to remove the figure from its base. | He said it would have taken a number of men with angle grinders several hours to remove the figure from its base. |
| "I'm very disturbed by this," Mr Sutton said. "It's unreal. | |
| "Some statues are stolen for their bronze. But this was cut down at the base and the materials would not have been worth stealing. | "Some statues are stolen for their bronze. But this was cut down at the base and the materials would not have been worth stealing. |
| "I made it out of clay first and then a silicone mould, before I cast it. It took me months and months to make and five or six men to carry it up there and install it. | |
| "It was very heavy and would have taken a long time to remove." | |
| Manannán Mac Lir is a sea deity in Irish mythology and is also said to have been the first ruler of the Isle of Man. | Manannán Mac Lir is a sea deity in Irish mythology and is also said to have been the first ruler of the Isle of Man. |
| Manand is the old Irish name for the Isle of Man and as his surname suggests, he was the son of Lir, meaning sea. | Manand is the old Irish name for the Isle of Man and as his surname suggests, he was the son of Lir, meaning sea. |
| Crucifix | Crucifix |
| People in the Limavady area tell of the presence of a sea god in Lough Foyle, County Londonderry, and the widespread practice of making offerings to deities in Celtic times. | People in the Limavady area tell of the presence of a sea god in Lough Foyle, County Londonderry, and the widespread practice of making offerings to deities in Celtic times. |
| Those who made off with the sea god left a wooden cross with the words 'You shall have no other gods before me' in its place. | Those who made off with the sea god left a wooden cross with the words 'You shall have no other gods before me' in its place. |
| Mr Sutton's £10,000 creation overlooked Benone Beach, Magilligan, Limavady and Donegal and was part of Limavady's sculpture trail. | Mr Sutton's £10,000 creation overlooked Benone Beach, Magilligan, Limavady and Donegal and was part of Limavady's sculpture trail. |
| "I was very proud of this. It was very popular with photographers," he said. | "I was very proud of this. It was very popular with photographers," he said. |
| According to Limavady Borough Council's website, people in the area believe that the spirit of Manannán Mac Lir at Gortmore Viewing Point is released during fierce storms. | According to Limavady Borough Council's website, people in the area believe that the spirit of Manannán Mac Lir at Gortmore Viewing Point is released during fierce storms. |
| 'Magical' | |
| Some elderly folk in the area are still heard to remark "Manannán is angry today," when the River Foyle is rough and refer to the angry waves as "Manannán's seahorses." | Some elderly folk in the area are still heard to remark "Manannán is angry today," when the River Foyle is rough and refer to the angry waves as "Manannán's seahorses." |
| According to mythology, Manannán had many magical possessions. | According to mythology, Manannán had many magical possessions. |
| He had a horse that could travel over land and sea and owned a metal boat, which obeyed the thoughts of its sailors. | He had a horse that could travel over land and sea and owned a metal boat, which obeyed the thoughts of its sailors. |
| The police said they were notified of the theft at about 10:25 GMT on Wednesday. | |
| "This statue of Manannán Mac Lir was in the area of Gortmore viewing point and is part of the Myths and Legends sculpture trail," Constable Nelson said. | |
| "Anyone with any information about this theft is asked to contact Limavady police station on the non-emergency number 101." |