Mayo artist’s latest work celebrates Irish female lineage and folklore

Galway based artist Emer Whelan has launched Ór, a new limited-edition artwork celebrating Irish female strength, ancient belief systems, and the enduring legacy of St. Brigid. Emer is originally from Ballinrobe.

Ór, the Irish word for gold, is a richly layered, symbolic piece that draws together mythology, place, and feminine creativity. Measuring 18cm x 18cm and oak framed, each work is crafted from laser-cut MDF wood, spray paint and hand-painted acrylic, and is available for €115 exclusively via here.

The piece is a meditation on spring and renewal. Its palette of green and gold reflects new beginnings, growth, and rebirth, while the oak frame references St. Brigid’s deep connection to the oak tree, under which she is said to have founded her monastery.

Through Ór, Whelan honours Ireland’s powerful goddesses, ancestral female knowledge, and St. Brigid’s role as both spiritual and cultural guide.

Whelan’s work is deeply rooted in Irish folklore, pagan symbolism, and the west of Ireland landscape. Emer was raised near the shores of Lough Mask, an environment that continues to shape her visual language. Her practice draws from Ireland’s ancient belief systems, the pull of land and ritual, and the often-overlooked legacy of historic Irish female trailblazers.

Working from her Galway studio, Emer creates each piece from start to finish using a combination of laser cutting and an intensely hands-on process. Every layer is considered and built slowly, allowing intuition, memory and place to guide the work. The result is contemporary Irish art that translates ancient stories into modern form, while remaining grounded in craft and meaning.

Ór also signals the direction of Whelan’s wider practice. The collection focuses on renewal, colour, and the act of carving out space for personal reflection, expanding Whelan’s exploration of folklore, ritual and lived experience through larger, immersive works.

Ór is available now in limited quantities by visiting here www.emerwhelanart.com.