Celtic Journey
Celtic Journey playing cards - where art and culture meet - designed by Carmen G. Carballeira, 2011
“Mythology is the drama of our own selves on the stage of antiquity...”
Celtic Journey - Irish Mythology playing cards
Illustrated by Carmen G. Carballeira
Above: Ace, Jack, Queen and King from two of the suits, and the two Jokers. The remaining two suits are shown below, with the back design.
Above: the entire deck is beautifully illustrated with vibrant colours and is accompanied by a GUIDEBOOK containing details about the artist and explanations of the court card personalities. The suit symbols are based on artefacts of Irish culture: Ardagh chalice, discovered in September 1868 in a ring fort at Reerasta, Ardagh, Limerich; Tara Broach, a Celtic broach of about 700 AD, found in Co Meath. Harp: for centuries, the harp has been a beloved emblem of Ireland. Celtic helmet: The Celts' protective armour included iron helmets. The back of the cards is based on the Battersea Shield (350 - 50 B.C.) found in the River Thames at Battersea Bridge, England, also of Celtic origin.
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.
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