It’s heritage week in Ireland and we’re celebrating the roots of some of our cultural icons - including, of course, the Aran sweater! National Heritage Week is an initiative by the Heritage Council aiming to raise awareness of the value of our heritage and to ensure it is preserved for future generations. The project started small and is now a nine day long event that includes Water Heritage Day and Wild Child Day in its programme. Events include guided tours of archaeological sites, Irish language classes, music sessions and crafting workshops, which are open to tourists as well as locals.

National Heritage Week is a part of the European Heritage Days network, and the theme for the week is shared with more than 40 European countries. This year, the theme is Exploring Our Foundations, and this incorporates the roots of our culture and the land we live and work upon. The rich history of the Aran sweater has much to bring to the discussion around cultural heritage in Ireland, and we are proud to be part of this living history event.

From Humble Roots

The Aran sweater hails from the Aran Islands, off the coast of Galway, and was originally created by the communities who built their lives here, on the harsh Atlantic coast. The fishermen and farmers working on the seas and in the fields wore these sweaters to protect them from the elements, and the stitches they incorporate give us a vital insight into their daily lives. The intricate stitching patterns tell stories about the way our ancestors carved their living, with stitches that represent different aspects of their existence. 

The Cable stitch, for instance, is said to represent the ropes used by the fishermen each day, and the honeycomb stitch reflects the hardworking ethos that was so important to the Islanders. Ireland’s complex history can also be seen in these stitches, with examples such as the Tree of Life stitch, which signifies the way in which the families and Clans worked together, and the Holy Trinity stitch, which originates from Celtic Art. Many Aran sweater designs still feature these stitches today, and they are often updated to add a touch of contemporary style while maintaining their cultural roots.

The unique patterns used to embellish these beautiful sweaters have been recorded in an official register, which can be seen in the Aran Sweater Market store on Inis Mor, and this demonstrates the importance of the stitching designs to the families who created them. Clan patterns are a powerful connection with our heritage, and the individual Clan designs are even believed to have been used to identify those who died at sea. 

Irish Heritage Brought to Life

The Aran Islands are a particularly rich source of cultural heritage due to their isolation, which created some separation from the industrialisation that transformed the Irish mainland. On the Aran Islands, many ancient skills and traditions have been maintained, as well as the connection to the old language. The Irish language is still the primary language for many Islanders, so the Islands are part of the Gaeltacht (Irish Speaking) area. 

The Irish language has a long and powerful history that has resisted rebellion and rapid change, underpinning our national sense of identity for centuries. The longevity of this language is honoured in the symbols and legends represented in the Clan sweater collection of Aran sweaters as well as in the folklore that has passed down through the generations. 

Other forms of cultural heritage that are central to the Aran Islands include music, and Island life is perfectly encapsulated in the traditional Irish songs that are still popular in the Aran Islands. Symbols of Irish culture serve as anchors for the Irish diaspora across the world. The Aran sweater is perhaps the most well loved of these, making the perfect gift for anyone with Irish ancestry. Because they can be worn all year round, these sweaters are ideal for all seasons and there are stunning options available for men, women and children.

Supporting Irish Artisans

At Aran Sweater Market, our skilled artisans share our vision of preserving Irish cultural heritage for future generations. These talented weavers and knitters rely on techniques that have been used to create cloth and garments in Ireland for many centuries and the items they produce are of the highest quality. Clothing and homewares such as this will last a lifetime if cared for correctly, becoming treasured family heirlooms. 

The history of weaving and knitting in Ireland runs through every stitch, and we can see how important these crafts have been to the development of our beautiful country. Scraps of woven cloth dating back thousands of years to the Neolithic period have been found in Ireland, as well as loom weights that show us that weaving was an important skill for our earliest ancestors. We know that the Celts, who arrived in Ireland around 500BC, brought new weaving techniques with them, as well as dyes and patterned cloths.

The importance of weaving to our cultural heritage is even enshrined in Brehon Laws, the ancient Irish legal texts from the early medieval period, which set out the framework for the production of textiles and regulated the types of fabrics and garments which could be worn by the different social classes. These laws stated that women who were divorced by their husbands could keep their wool and spindles, recognising that this was their livelihood and enabling them to retain their independence.

Our mission to share Aran sweaters with the world began in the small Island community of Inis Mor, where our flagship store remains, and we now have several stores across Ireland, supplying the finest authentic Aran knitwear from the best of Irish makers and designers. Our garments and homewares are made by hand or using traditional machines and looms, and all are finished to the highest standards before being carefully packaged and sent to their new homes. We believe that every item we sell contains a little piece of Irish history, and we value this as our role in maintaining Irish cultural history. 

A Labour of Love 

The original Aran sweaters were knitted with love to protect the husbands, sons and brothers who worked on the harsh Atlantic coast and they would have taken many weeks to complete. A finished Aran sweater can include up to 100,000 intricate stitches and takes around sixty days of hand knitting. Celtic art and Aran knitting preserve Irish history in similar ways, incorporating patterns similar to those found at Neolithic burial sites, and each carries a unique meaning. The cultural importance of these symbols and designs can be seen in centuries of Celtic art, and the famous Book of Kells contains some of the iconic patterns still in use today. 

The meanings of each stitch can be interpreted in several different ways, and these may have changed over the years or varied from clan to clan. The diamond stitch, for instance, can be seen to represent the nets of the fishermen or the small fields on the Aran islands in which crops to support the community were grown. These fields are unique to small farming communities such as this, and they are marked by small, roughly hewn stones, as represented by the Trellis stitch.

The Zig Zag stitch is commonly found in Aran sweaters and in blankets made in the same style. This is a stitch based on the paths which ran down the cliffs from the fishermen’s homes to the sea, and is also said to represent the ups and downs of married life. For this reason, garments and homewares that incorporate this stitch make wonderful gifts for couples getting engaged or married. 

Growing in Popularity

The Aran sweater, from its humble roots, has become an iconic style statement for people all over the world, including some of the biggest names in the music and film industries. The classic white Aran sweater with cable knit stitching is synonymous with winter wear and festive films, and modern designs that combine tradition and modernity are well loved for their practicality and style.

Aran sweaters from Aran Sweater Market are made from the finest wools and wool blends, creating the perfect, sustainable alternative to fast fashion, which is so detrimental to the environment. Wool is an natural, organic fibre that is warm and breathable, making it a great choice for regulating the body temperature all year round. It can also absorb 30% of its weight in water before feeling wet, so it’s a great choice to protect against occasional showers in Ireland’s unpredictable climate!

The Finest Irish Aran Sweaters

National Heritage week offers many opportunities to celebrate our cultural history and the Aran sweater brings together many elements of this. Our range of Clan sweaters pays homage to the bonds shared with our ancestors and the unique designs and stitches ensure that every item is an authentic part of Ireland’s heritage. 

We have stores located in the Aran Islands, Galway, Killarney and Dublin, and you’ll find beautiful cardigans, jackets and wraps in our range, along with traditional Aran sweaters that will preserve Irish history and craftsmanship for many years to come.