OK. Arrans, I love 'em. But please do not get fooled by clan affiliations with designs. They don't exist outside of the sweater making companies. Irish tuaths had no such designs.
As fo the sweaters, check ebay, you won't find better prices anywhere.
Edit: I may have to correct myself on prices. Your link has exceptional prices for Arrans...hmmmmm...
Last edited by Moosehead; 7th March 06 at 08:14 PM.
Growing up in Ireland I always had Aran jumpers of one sort or another, there are no "Clan" associations with the, I suspect clever marketing!
Of course the different patterns and designs have individual names, but there is nothing associated with family names... just for the record!
Paul is quite right, the various Irish 'clan' paraphenaelia is indeed a marketing ploy directed primarily at those Americans of Irish descent who have the means to indulge their 'heritage'. IMHO, there exists two Irish cultures: that of those in Ireland and that of the Irish-Americans. That latter culture has been influenced largely by the difficulties of assimilation resulting from the Famine Exodus of the 1800's, that portrayed in the movies a la Bing Crosby, et al, and lastly, the handed down family legends perhaps somewhat embellished over the generations.
Those look good, I've bookmarked it and thanks for the link.
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