The concept for this piece is to convey the link between environment and heritage. This is a short animation portraying the history of the grey wolf species within Ireland. The short piece will consist of a number of highlights, showing the species and their prevalence in Irish history. This will range from the species introduction during the last ice-age, to the extinction of the species. Wolves have been a major factor in Irish folklore, history and have greatly influenced the landscape, due to their position near the top of the food chain for thousands of years. Because of this, the Irish wolf became a symbol of the landscape, earning the name ‘Mac Tíre’ in Irish, roughly translating to, ‘Son of the Land’.

By showing the rise and fall of the species, I hope to convey how both the wolves and their environment influenced Irish culture and, that the destruction of the species demonstrates the link between Ireland’s heritage and our wilderness.