Celtic Inlays and Irish Heritage: Emerald’s 2026 Collection

This March, we’re marking St. Patrick’s Day with four new Celtic-inspired fretboard inlays — and 50% off all custom inlay options for the entire month.

Ireland is the only nation in the world to have a musical instrument as its national symbol. That choice says everything about how deeply music and craft are woven into Irish identity — and it’s a spirit that runs through everything we do at Emerald.

Our 2026 Celtic Inlay Collection is the latest expression of that connection: four fretboard designs drawn from some of Ireland’s most iconic cultural artefacts, each reimagined for a custom Emerald build.

From Donegal Stone to National Symbol: The Inspiration

Emerald is based in Donegal, and our Celtic collections reflect that — rooted in the landscape and heritage that surrounds us.

In March 2025, our first Celtic collection drew inspiration from the Marigold Stone, an 8th-century carved standing stone just thirty minutes from the Emerald workshop in Carndonagh, Co. Donegal. Its intricate knotwork and geometric carvings — etched into the local landscape for over a thousand years — became the foundation for six inlay designs including the Marigold Knot, Marigold Lattice, and Unity Knots.

For 2026, we looked further afield — to the 14th-century Brian Boru Harp, housed in Trinity College Dublin, and the 9th-century Book of Kells. The harp’s carved ornamentation inspired three of our new designs; the manuscript’s flowing zoomorphic style inspired the fourth. Together, the two collections trace a thread from the carved stones of rural Donegal to the artefacts that define Irish identity on a national stage.

The 2026 Designs

Cláirseach

Cláirseach is Irish for harp, and this design translates the Brian Boru Harp’s ornate carved motifs directly onto the fretboard. Visually rich and historically grounded, it’s the centrepiece of the collection.

Cláirseach Lines

A more understated interpretation, featuring clean flowing lines and elegant semicircular accents running along the bass side of the neck. Refined, considered, and a beautiful alternative to conventional dot markers.

Double Cláirseach Lines

The Cláirseach Lines mirrored along both edges of the fretboard, creating a symmetrical frame that runs the full length of the neck. Subtle at a distance, intricate up close.

Emerald 2026

The boldest design in the collection. Our mascot Rufus, reimagined in the flowing zoomorphic style of the Book of Kells and woven into a newly stylised Emerald logo. Irish heritage and Emerald identity, combined.

50% Off All Inlays This March

All fretboard inlay options are available at 50% off throughout March 2026, when ordered as part of a custom Emerald build. Use our Custom 3D Builder to choose your design, customise colours, and visualise your complete instrument before you commit.
Made in Ireland. Built for the world. Shaped by a tradition that stretches back centuries.