Fjord inspires new handcrafted artwork celebrating Galway and Mayo
ONE of the west of Ireland's most iconic landscapes is captured in new handcrafted 3D maps celebrating the beauty and heritage of Killary Fjord.
Stretching between counties Galway and Mayo, Killary Fjord is one of Ireland's most dramatic natural landmarks. Carved by glaciers during the last Ice Age, the fjord is renowned for its steep mountainsides, deep Atlantic waters, thriving shellfish farms and breathtaking scenery that attracts walkers, swimmers, kayakers and visitors from across the world.
Now, the iconic landscape has been immortalised in the latest 3D landscape map creation from Outcrop, offering people with a connection to Killary a unique piece of handcrafted design that celebrates one of Ireland's most treasured places. And as staycations and outdoor adventures continue to inspire people to reconnect with Ireland's landscapes, Maeve and Aran at Outcrop say Killary has become one of its most requested locations.
Maeve Pudney, co-founder of Outcrop, says: "Killary Fjord is one of the most remarkable landscapes in Ireland. It has such a strong sense of place, whether you've grown up nearby, visited on holiday or simply admire its natural beauty.
“We wanted to create something that captures not just its geography, but the emotional connection people have with it. Every map is made by hand in our workshop, so each piece carries its own story of Irish craftsmanship alongside the landscape it represents."
Shop Outcrop online at outcrop.ie and at stockists nationwide, including Aodha in Westport, Caffrey’s in Ballina and Foxford.
Handcrafted in Sligo, each map is precision-cut from layers of custom-made, formaldehyde-free bamboo plywood and housed within the studio’s framing system, paying tribute to traditional Japanese Magewappa craftsmanship.
Along with the Killary Fjord map, the studio offers more than 100 mapped locations across Ireland, from Cork City to Kinsale, Donegal Bay to Wicklow, and new areas are added regularly, allowing customers to find a meaningful ‘local spot’. And exclusively on Outcrop’s website, you can pinpoint a place or Eircode with a solid brass pin, and engrave a message on the back for an extra €20.
Sustainability remains at the core of the brand. Every piece is created using FSC-certified materials, non-toxic glue and Outcrop’s signature Atlantic blue stain inspired by Ireland’s west coast. The maps are fully biodegradable or compostable, assembled without nails or screws, and finished with a wooden clip for a clean, contemporary finish.
Outcrop has recently been granted a European patent for its round wooden framing system, developed by co-founders Maeve and Aran in their Sligo workshop. The design grew from a practical sustainability challenge: how to create a high-quality frame for their circular landscape maps without relying on bulky imported frames, MDF, rainforest timber or unnecessary material use. Inspired by traditional Japanese magewappa bentwood forms, Shaker boxes and Irish vernacular furniture, the frame has a quiet, pared-back aesthetic that reflects Outcrop’s wider approach to design – refined, material-led and environmentally considered.
The system is designed to ship flat, reduce storage and transport volume, and be assembled without glues or nails, using a small wooden connection inspired by the tusk tenon joint found in the ‘Sligo Chair’ (a three-legged chair with a very distinctive design). For Maeve and Aran, the patent marks an important step in protecting a design that is not just visually distinctive, but also part of a much bigger ambition: to rethink what a picture frame can be, and to show that sustainable design can be both technically innovative and beautiful.
Outcrop is the creative partnership of Aran and Maeve Pudney, a husband-and-wife team blending engineering and design expertise. Both grew up by the sea - Maeve in Sligo, Aran in New Zealand - and their work reflects a shared love of coastal landscapes and considered, sustainable design. Their mapping journey began in Wellington, New Zealand, where they lived for several years before returning to Sligo in 2020.
Outcrop is built around family life, with a hands-on approach that allows Aran and Maeve to balance their craft with raising their children. Every map is designed and made in-house with care and intention, using eco-friendly materials to honour the landscapes that inspire them.
Aran says: “Our aim has always been to make really good products that will bring their owners joy and be cherished for a long time.”