The Aran Islands are a small archipelago located at the mouth of Galway Bay, at the western end of Ireland. It consists of three islands: Inishmore, the largest; Inishmaan, the medium and Inisheer, the smallest. Aran is a Gaeltacht area (areas where the Irish language is in majority use and in which it has a special status) and is one of the last strongholds of the declining Irish language. The native inhabitants of the island are bilingual in English and Irish, being one of the few places where it is still common to hear Irish on a daily basis. During the time of the Gaelic revival, the islands were identified as a sort little capsule of a bygone time and many enthusiasts settled on them to learn the language and customs.

Traditionally, the main economic activity on the islands has been fishing and livestock. At the end of the 19th century, experts from other parts of the UK were sent to the Aran Islands to try to revive their failing economy, instructing fishermen in new techniques to improve fish catches and also to protect themselves from the elements. It is ventured that it was fishermen from the Island of Guernsey (located in the English Channel) who taught the locals how to weave the wool jumper they used to fish and it is at this time when the Aran jumper makes its appearance.

This well-known type of sweater came to the islands due to the need of its fishermen to overcome the harsh conditions of the North Atlantic. Originally, the jumper was knitted from unwashed local wool, so it still retained its natural grease, lanolin. By knitting with this oily wool, the sweaters were truly resistant to water, both from rain and splashes from the sea. In addition, they were woven in undyed wool, for which the traditional colour is white or cream. Today, however, they are made from softer washed wools such as Merino wool, for which some of their water resistance has been sacrificed for greater comfort. Their distinctive motifs make them recognizable from other jumpers and they became popular worldwide in the 1950s when they began appearing in fashion magazines.

Gone are the days when each jumper was knitted by hand, since today the vast majority are knitted on machines, with the uniformity and consistency that this entails. Although you can still find hand-knitted sweaters, this practice is in clear decline. Fishermen (like so many other professions) have, for the most part, replaced traditional fabrics with new synthetic materials, that is, they have changed their typical cream-colored or white wool sweaters for Gore-Tex.

As a note for outdoor lovers, among the many options to do in the Aran Islands, the routes along its rugged paths stand out. Bicycles are the best option to move around the island of Inishmore, especially if you want to see the most in a day trip, although there is also the typical tourist bus. There are numerous bike rental options right at the port where the ferry arrives. If you have more than one day, the walking route will not leave you indifferent. On arrival at Inishmore you can find plenty of information on places to visit and routes to see the island. We highlight the Fort of Dún Aengus (Dún Aonghasa), the biggest attraction on the island. It is a prehistoric fort from the Bronze Age located on a cliff of about 100 meters and its visit is worth it. Beware, admission is not free. Other points of interest are Dún Dúchathair and Poll na bPéist (Wormhole).