Emigration is embedded within the Irish DNA - it's our relationship with other countries that have allowed Ireland to become one of the most loved nations.

For one day a year, Ireland manages to imprint itself on more countries around the world than any other country in History.

St. Patricks Day this year will see 287 globally recognised monuments turn green. This is up from just two buildings back in 2010.Sweater Shop investigatesthe Irish connections abroad and has illustrated this connection for some of the most Iconic buildings around the world.

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Ireland and France, A Love Affair

Ireland and France share a long-standing, lovable history that began in 1848¹. A group of French women gifted the Irish with their national flag.

This affair is not all taking. The Irish returned the favour by gifting them with their most famous spirit, Hennessy².

And recently the French awarded Ireland with a medal for our Sportsmanship and Outstanding Contribution at Euro 2016. An event, the Mayor of Paris called a unique moment for Ireland in France. The Irish certainly raised the spirits of a country that had a tough year.

The French continue to host the largest Irish cultural centre in Europe, and we continue to adore their language, teaching it to 180,000 of our youth each year². Long may the relationship continue, one set to strengthen further in light of the impending, Brexit.

Ireland and Brazil, an Educational Collaboration

Ireland and Brazil enjoy excellent relations, politically, culturally and economically. New links are being built, between these two countries.

Eight years ago in 2012 Ireland signed a milestone agreement with Brazil relating to education³. Today, Brazil tops the league of non-EU students studying in Ireland, which is more than China and the U.S combined. Brazilian students claim to love Ireland, leaving with a little bit of Ireland in their hearts.

The Irish Community living and working in Brazil also continues to grow and includes business people, students on university exchanges and Irish people who have decided to call Brazil home.

Its said the Irish communities vibrant and unique contribution continues to make a positive contribution to Brazil.

Ireland and Italy, creating culinary masters since 1880

There is strong historical and cultural bond between the Irish and Italian, both sharing a mutual respect for each others traditions.

The Irish and the Italians are probably the most like each other. Nations of laid-back people with a sunny disposition, who are extroverted and gentle but also very proud.

Strong historical ties between these nations go back as far as the European Dark Ages, which began around 500 AD. Pope Paul V helped the Irish Earls in 1608 after they were forced out of Ireland by the British.⁴

They are now buried in the church of San Pietro in Montorio which indicates the high esteem the Italians had for our Gaelic chieftains.

The two countries have helped each other out a lot since then, efforts resulting a little Italy in Ireland, Irish-Italian chippers, that have been popular since 1909.⁵

Ireland and Egypt, Inspiring their Nation

Celtic Warriors in Egypt, during the third century, acted as a support for the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. It is history, where many mysteries remain, but Egyptian archaeologists have found many figurines of Celts presented in Ptolemaic style.⁶

Known, as mighty warriors, offering the most critical support to Mediterranean armies, more than 4,000 reportedly fought under the reign of the Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt. As a result, many Irish settled in Egypt. It is said that the children of Celtic-Egyptian marriages were known by the slang term e pigovoi.⁶

Further exciting and, surprising similarities - are found in Passage Tombs. Ireland has a passage tomb in Newgrange - that was constructed in 3200BC - making it more than 600 years older than the Giza Pyramids in Egypt (while lacking the architectural grandeur, that's quite impressive).⁷

Ireland and USA, From Rags to Riches

The Irish American Population is seven times larger than Ireland itself, with a quarter of Bostonians claiming Irish heritage.⁸ The Irish influence is dominant in American history.

Nine signatories of the Declaration of Independence were Irish. In fact, the Irish have more influence on American politics with twenty-two American presidents boasting Irish roots.

Irishmen built the White House. And it's no surprise that thirteen towns in America are named after the capital of Ireland, Dublin.⁹

America was introduced to one of their most loved sports boxing from the Irish. Probably born from the Irish reputation of hot tempers and fervent pugilism.

It could be argued that the Irish take over on St Patrick's Day is a direct result of the American celebrations for Ireland as the first St Patricks Day parade took place in New York City, 1762.⁹

Even the world-famous Irish saying, The Luck of the Irish came from Americans branding the Irish immigrants mining success as luck, rather than skill.

Ireland and Australia, an Engineering Masterpiece

The Irish have been prominent in early the history of the development of Australia and shaped Australias early cultural, social and political attitudes. To this day, Australia remains one of the most Irish countries in the world, outside Ireland. 10.4% of their population or 2,087,800 residents identified themselves as having Irish ancestry either alone or in combination with another ancestry.¹⁰

The Irish had design involvements in one of Australia's most recognisable buildings, the Sydney Opera House. Peter Rice, from Dundalk, Co. Louth, a structural engineer mastered geometry for the complex roof design.

Ireland and Mexico, A Combative Alliance

An Interesting relationship, and one that has been less publicised over the years. The Irish Mexican bond is one dating way back to 1611. Irishman, William Lambert born initially in Wexford was the first person to propose the independence of Mexico.

Saint Patrick Battalion Irish soldiers also fought for Mexico during the Mexican-American War. In what has been lauded as one of the highest honours ever, because they were fighting for an adopted nation - and they died for an adopted country.

Mexico remembers the soldiers as heroic martyrs and their sacrifices are still honoured today. A commemoration is held each year in the Plaza San Jacinto. Both the Mexican and the Irish national anthems are played with an honour guard of elite Mexican soldiers saluting the deceased.¹²

Today, between 300,000 and 600,000 people of Irish descent are living in Mexico, mostly in either northern Mexico Mexico City.¹³

Ireland and Canada, A Shared Culture

The Irish and the Canadians have a love, love relationship. Toronto is a city that was shaped in many ways by the Irish people who immigrated in the 1840s and the impact is still clear to see today.

St Patricks Day is a public holiday in Canadian provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador. The residents here dont like being called Canadians, but you can call them Irish, and the area is often dubbed the most Irish place outside of Ireland.¹⁴

The Montreal city flag includes a shamrock. Irish is spoken in a certain part of Ontario in Canada where the Gaeltacht Thuaisceart an Oilein ir is based (or the North American Gaeltacht). Its also the only Gaeltacht that exists outside of the island of Ireland.

Famously, St Patricks day was celebrated in Space by Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield who photographed Ireland from the ISS and performed an out-of-this-world rendition of Danny Boy. Today, 4.5 million Canadians claim to have Irish ancestors - 14% of Canada's population.¹⁵

Ireland and China, A Prosperous Relationship

A bond that was born from a story largely unknown, reaching back to more than 100 years ago. From a time of epic events at an extraordinarily turbulent but fascinating period of Chinese history. A time when hundreds of Irish men and women made their way to China as missionaries to work in social and disaster relief services.

Today the Irish are helping shape the Chinese Dream. The promise of a moderately prosperous society, combining a growing economy with a genuine improvement in the quality of life. It seems there are very few economies that have achieved this transition, with many Chinese analysts believing Ireland is a successful benchmarkable example.¹⁶

Ireland and Jordan, Sharing the Struggle for Peace

One based on empathy, compassion and respect. Ireland and Jordan are two countries that have unfortunately experienced similar conflict and the struggle for peace. Ireland today continues to help Jordan through their refugee crisis and the development of bilateral relations, to date making a financial contribution of 70 million.¹⁷

There are also 336 Irish troops from the 109th Infantry Battalion who are currently serving with the UN peace-keeping force, UNIFIL, continuing Irelands long and proud tradition of participation in UN peace-keeping missions. With understanding like no other and love in their hearts, they are committed to making a difference in Jordan.

Ireland in the UK, A Historic Shift

Ireland, and the UK. A history of rivalry from neighbours, with Ireland always the underdog. The relationship is shifting, In 2017 alone, 162,251 individuals applied for Irish Passports from the UK.¹⁸No doubt Brexit has influenced this, but a favourable reversal to whats documented in the history books.

With Ireland now also the Gateway for the UK to the EU, we hope our friends across the pond continue to be kind to us as a nation we majorly rely on the UK for exportation of goods.

A FINAL THOUGHT

To conclude on why the world will light up green this St Patricks Day, we believe this is due to our positive influential relationships around the world. As an Irish, family owned and run business, we are proud to be recognised globally, we are proud our country.

Be sure to join in on the St Patricks Day fun this Saturday, and celebrate in true Irish style with your nearest and dearest.

To view the list of all 287 Monuments lighting up green on the 17th check out this list from Tourism Ireland.

Sources

1. https://www.thelocal.fr/20160625/five-things-you-didnt-know-about-france-and-ireland
2. https://ie.ambafrance.org/Did-you-know-10-facts-about-Franco
3. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/brazil-tops-league-of-non-eu-students-in-ireland-1.2981494
4. https://toscana.ie/irish-italian-connection-history/
5. https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/italy/our-role/irish-relations/
6. http://www.ancient-origins.net/history/exploring-little-known-history-celtic-warriors-egypt-005100
7. https://mythicalireland.com/ancient-sites/101-facts-about-newgrange/
8. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2013/03/17/the-irish-american-population-is-seven-times-larger-than-ireland/?utm_term=.120ac8f8c283
9. https://www.nycstpatricksparade.org/about/history/
10. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/17/ireland-australia-land-of-plenty
11. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland-s-mexican-wave-1.601082
12. https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/how-many-dublins-are-there-in-america
13. https://www.pri.org/stories/2015-03-17/st-patrick-s-day-mexico-remembers-irishmen-who-fought-mexico-against-us
14. https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/the-most-irish-island-in-the-world-1.1538579
15. https://www.space.com/20257-space-st-patricks-day-astronaut.html
16. http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/relationship-between-ireland-and-china-1522090-Jun2014/
17. https://www.dfa.ie/news-and-media/press-releases/press-release-archive/2017/february/minister-mchugh-visits-jordan-and-lebanon/
18. https://www.independent.ie/business/brexit/surge-in-irish-passport-applications-from-uk-36450675.html

The Irish Aran sweater an instantly recognisable iconic style worthy of a place among the Museum of Modern Arts landmark fashion garments.

The definition of a classic, in many ways, is how well something stands the test of time, and what meaning it acquires therewith. While the Irish Aran cable sweater has gone through a century of waxing and waning fortunes, today it stands included among 111 fashion garments selected for an upcoming exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) IN New York. The inclusion of an Aran among carefully selected iconic items that have defined fashion over the last century is a clear nod to the artisan craft of Irish knitwear.

An array of style icons has been captured wearing the famous Irish wool Aran jumper at various points throughout the last century. Yet its the stories that people tell today that attest to the importance of this craft for generations throughout the years. Its the fact that our parents and grandparents have gone through college wearing an Aran hand-knitted by their grandmothers; the way we too would leave the house for college borrowing mum or dads Aran jumper; and, the memories of kissing our sweetheart for the first time - while wearing that oversized borrowed Aran sweater to the cinema date.

Remember all the slagging you may have got for being dressed (by mum - against your will) in Irish sweaters when in school, erstwhile? There seems to be a million lightyears between those days of having to defend your cool against the odds - wearing a frumpy Aran sweater, and the sexiness of it all when considering that Grace Kelly could pull it off, never mind that it is about to go on display alongside the Birkin bag and a pair of Levis 501!

I still claim to have brought the Aran cable sweater back from the dead all by myself, in the mid 2000s, when I was the only local kid on Trinity College Dublin campus sporting a garment that was otherwise considered by the Irish themselves albeit, for a brief period only as a piece of nostalgic touristy gimmicks. And who knows who copied whom this time around on fashions carousel of revivals, but one things for sure: that comeback was for good. There is today no better way to express character than to get your Aran knit on - the array of choice picks is astounding. Different Aran strokes for different folks, perhaps All of which - so long as its Aran stitches now instantly recognizable as part of that enchanting tale of the Aran sweater that the MoMA exhibition has set out to tell

The Irish Aran Sweater Displayed

A modern version of the Irish Aran Sweater

A good rule of thumb for washing your Irish Aran cable sweater is to go with the old-fashioned hand wash (the alternative is a visit to a well-reputed dry-cleaners). Though the thought may seem daunting there is nothing to it, if you follow these easy guidelines:

1.Pre-soak the sweater in a basin of tepid water (at 30C/86F) with a little mild purpose detergent, such as Woolite, or, baby shampoo for a time ranging between a half an hour up to overnight.
2.Gently rinse your sweater, bearing in mind that wool is quite heavy when wet thus, care needs to be taken not to pull it out of shape by dragging or wringing. Some spots may need to be rinsed a little more thoroughly (cuffs, neckline and the incidental stain), and can be tackled with a stain removing soap.
3.After rinsing through a couple of times to wash off any residual suds, your Aran can be pressed out and towel-rolled (the blocking technique). This means that instead of wringing and pulling the saturated garment, you fold or roll it up into a shape that can be squeezed first, and, pressed while rolled up inside a towel second - to get rid of as much water as possible.
4.The wet garment will still be too heavy to hang up at this point; instead, it will need to be laid out flat on a clothes rack and reshaped to its original dimensions. Wet wool moves readily, so dont be precious and give it a tug where some sleeve, or body length seems to have gone skimpy.
5.The trick to a drying a wool sweater quickly is to position the clothes rack in spot where there is good circulation of air, and a source of ambient (never direct) heat.
6.Goldilocks would do some final reshaping when the sweater is still slightly damp just right for stretching the wool panels back into their original proportions, without overdoing it.
7.Remember, that stains can be spot-cleaned without doing the entire garment. Simply wet the area that needs attention, and gently rub some mild soap directly onto the stain then rinse out under tepid tap.

All wool garments let go of odours as easily as they absorb them. Just hanging your Aran sweater up in a room that has good circulation of fresh air coming through it, can completely refresh it in a matter of hours.

Finally, the battle with balls of fuzz on areas where your sweater is most heavily rubbed on - by handbags and other layers of clothing - need not be a nightmare. Every knit piece can be restored in your lap while you sit watching Netflix, if you have the right equipment to tackle pilling. To treat a chunkier knit piece: a battery-operated lint shaver comes in handy. The small rotating blades will cut off only the balls of fluff without damaging the yarn so that the stitches remain intact. It is always better to do regular de-fuzzing of your sweater than to let pilling spread and matt.

Ive made a small ritual out of taking 5 minutes to go through the sleeves and around the hips of my sweaters after two or three days of wear, or, before replacing in the wardrobe - with the reward of having each in as brilliant a nick as ten years ago, in some cases!

Treat your loved ones this 4th of July with one of our luxurious Irish Aran throws in Merino wool! The story of the Aran tradition comes alive in the cables, diamonds, and moss patterns among an array of beautifully composed stitches that you can drape over your living room couch, your favourite chair, or the end of a bed or bring with you to the beach or to the park for your 4th of July picnic. Show off your Irish roots in an authentic Irish Aran cable knit throw. We have a range of colours in two tone compositions besides the classic creamy Aran white soft lime green, fuchsia, and black/charcoal. There is nothing like the play of pattern to lend any room a sense of cosy comfort, while you sip on a cup of tea, read a novel or doze off with the hum of a tv series in the background Beautiful, soft, and warm these throws are to be shared and enjoyed for years, so gift yourself a quality Aran throw and have a great 4th of July!

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The Irish Aran Cable knit Sweater is no longer necessarily a heavy layer for the depths of winter: we have been adding fantastic light-weight knitwear to that tradition for a while now. Not only can a lighter Aran be worn during the warmer seasons fabrics in soft Merino wool and cashmere are finer, so the stiches and finish appear elegant, dainty, and offer more versatility and ways to wear them than ever before. Our range of light Aran sweaters and cardigans offers the ladies some truly fun, smart, and feminine styles in fresh pastel colours, or, in deeper shades to cover all seasons. The guys have some great numbers to choose from also! Not mention the chic unisex option women have with these cabled jumpers should they so desire

A light cabled Aran sweater is doubtless quite a statement in the summer - when hot days in tees and dresses run into cooler nights at a concert, or on a late holiday stroll through bustling fairy-lit city streets. Carefree and ready to embrace all that summer has to offer - are words that best describe the attitude for which we have created some beautiful pieces: as easy to throw on over a pair of jeans, a jumpsuit, or the beach dress.
Choosing a thinner layer in soft wool and cashmere is quite the mark of a savvy dresser, for it is perhaps the best kept secret that natural fabrics - like wool and cotton - are far more breathable than synthetics. Natural fibres make for smart fabrics - they dissipate excess heat and moisture. So, believe me when I say, dancing through an entire gig with one of these sweaters on, just as running around the block with errands on a sunny summers day is not only doable, but quite cool

Our 6th Store is now open in Plunkett Street in Killarney

Last November, we took a trip down to Killarney and viewed a few premises with the view to opening a new store in Ireland. We looked at many spots and finally decided to go with a unit on Plunkett Street, Co. Killarney.
Killarney is such a fun vibrant town that we thought our brand would fit in well there. We decided to open a store that would be a little different to our others. This is our 6th shop in Ireland and all of our other stores have a large range of Irish Aran sweaters, cardigans and accessories, so we thought we would add cashmere to the mix in Killarney as well as stocking a selected range of our most popular Irish sweaters and also our new range of luxurious cashmere sweaters for men and women. The cashmere that we have sourced is the utmost best quality and comes from the under belly of the goat so makes the garment feel extra soft! We also stock extra fine merino wool garments there for the customer who likes light weight sweaters but want quality at the same time. The Merino wool in these lightweight garment is made of a special yarn called Zegna Baruffa so it will not pill.

We also have a large selection of Irish Throws, scarves, gloves, socks, hats, raincoats in the store. When we are abroad, we always found it hard to shop with the luggage restriction so we have now started free shipping over 100 euro to USA and Canada in all our stores and free shipping on any Irish throws purchased ( aswell as tax taken off on the spot, makes for a really good deal!) The shop in Killarney is also open much late than our other stores, opening at 9.30 until 10.pm that evening to allow customers to browse in the morning before their tour and then shop in the evening. All of staff in any of our shops are more than happy to help you pick a present for your family back home or to advise you on colours or to just giver you a little local advice about the area. So if your in Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny or Kilalrney this summer, please do pop in and say hello - we would love to meet you!

Killarney Store - 27 Plunkett Street

Dublin Store - 30 Nassau Street

Galway Store - 3 Lower Abbey Gate Street

Kilkenny Store - 81 High Street

Irish Aran Sweater of the Month : Irish Cable Knit Side Zip Cardigan
The Irish wool Aran cardigan of the month has to be the new cable knit side zip womens cardigan - available in three attractive and versatile colours. This classic look is an update of the time-tested, chic style we already know in its earlier incarnations as the aviator, or the biker jacket. What makes it so fresh - is the change of material from the rather heavy and somewhat common leathers, to expertly woven soft merino wool. With the luxury of a light and breathable merino fabric every stich cable, honeycomb, trellis, and moss becomes an elegant and sleek detail that gives the garment a rich, yet effortless appeal.
Two side-slit pockets bring this contemporary zipper cardigan well into the territory of confident casual attitude (and, so handy for that credit card!). Not only that, but its clever tailoring - to fit neatly on the shoulders, slim sleeves, and a flattering just-bellow-the-belt mid-hip hemline creates a slender and defined visual. This jacket is a certain companion for your good skinny jeans, a dreamy floral dress, or that layered leggings and a long top vibe. Dont be shy to go casual day through to glam night: by kicking off the runner shoe for strappy high-heeled sandals, while sporting ankle grazer pants and a cami top.
Open or zipped over, the side zip Irish Aran cardigan offers plenty of ways to style the neckline. Though its defined, slightly off-side finish is a beautiful occasion for minimalism (tie the scarf to your handbag instead, and ooze eclectic bohemian charm!). As for the colours natural white, oatmeal beige, or marled hunter green there is something for every complexion and hair colour. Natural tones are a blank canvas; and, with stitches as neat and refined there is little need for further ornament (perhaps, some daring contrast with bright lipstick).

Irish Aran Side Zip Cardigan

https://www.sweatershop.com/womens

1. The patterns on Irish sweaters are based on Irish Tradition each stitch represents a different meaning and symbolizes something of importance. There are many different stitches with meanings behind them for example the honeycomb stitch represents the bee which is also a sign of a hard worker (a busy bee). The diamond stitch represents wealth, the moss stitch is said to mean growth and is often used with the diamond stitch. The tree of life stitch symbolises the rite of passage and the importance of family. The infamous cable stitch is the most common stitch seen on Aran sweaters and that represents fisherman ropes.

A myth about the Aran sweater is that the stitches are linked to family names the legend has it that each stitch represents a family second name so that is the fisherman was lost at sea the family would be able to identify the body by the stitch on the sweater although an interesting store, it has not been proven at a fact!

2. Origin of the Aran Sweater

The beloved Aran sweater originated in the Aran Islands, off the west coast of Ireland around the 1950s women hand made their fisherman husbands Irish sweaters to keep them warm at sea, they also sold them on the island to make a living. Irish sweaters used to be water proof so they were the perfect garment for the man to wear at sea. The sweater was made with unscored wool that kept its natural oil in it, making it water resistant! The majority of men on the islands were fisherman or farmers so these fisherman sweaters were extremely popular. Handknitting an Irish sweater took between 3 to 6 weeks to complete so the women on the islands were kept busy at work knitting.

3. Clancy Brothers and Aran Sweaters!

The made Aran sweaters cool in the States and brought it back to life in Ireland!! The Irish folk band were over in USA touring when a particularly cold spell hit New York. The Clancy Brothers mum send them over Aran Sweaters that they wore live on the Ed Sullivan Show this gave fisherman sweaters a big boost in popularity! They were famed for wearing the infamous Irish sweater each time they performed making it their trademark!

4. Aran Sweaters have evolved

In the past, all aran sweaters were made with Irish wool which comes from sheep in Ireland. Nowadays most Irish sweaters are knit with Merino wool from New Zealand as it is softer to wear and wears better. Merino wool stays warm in winter and cool in summer, making it the ideal wool for an Aran Sweater.

Our story began in 1986 when our Dad (Dom) set up his first Sweater Shop in Wicklow Street in Dublin, together with our aunt Breege. With 3 young children at home, he decided to set up his own company and put his knitwear knowledge to good use. 10 years prior to this, he had worked for Gaeltarra knitwear - An Irish Wholesaler who specialised in selling Irish Sweaters to the American Market. His job entailed travelling back and forth to the States selling Irish Aran Sweaters to American customers. Dom noticed that there were quite a few speciality shops in America and at the time, Ireland had none. He decided to open up a store specialising in Irish Sweaters with a big focus on Irish Aran Sweaters. The first store was a big hit with locals and tourists and gained media attention for the quality and prices of the sweaters sold.

Dom, Breege and our mum (Joan) worked in the shop on Wicklow Street and learnt what customers were interested in - they saw a growing demand for cable knit Irish sweaters so worked together to develop a range of authentic Irish sweaters that would suit both local and tourists visiting the shop. They soon decided to open up more stores throughout the country. Keeping the business in the family, they set up two stores in Galway in the early 1990s and our cousin Alva, runs these to this day.

The Sweater Shop continued to expand - with 5 shops around Ireland and a busy website - and now the second generation - Doms daughter Laura, Daughter in law Kate and son Paul have taken over the daily running of the stores and the managing of the website, while Dom still over sees the business.

We all worked in the store on summer breaks in school and then in college so needless to say, we grew up living and breathing aran sweaters! We have a group of amazing staff, some who have been with us since the beginning and are like extended family. We pride ourselves in being experts in Irish Aran Sweaters and all things Cable knit! If you are in and around Dublin, Galway or Kilkenny, make sure to pop in and we will be sure to give you advice on what to do in the city and show you our range of Aran Sweaters!

Last year, we celebrated our 30 years in Business milestone. We are incredibly proud that the business has come this far and look forward to another 30 years as an Irish family run business!

Go raibh mile maith agat,
The Sweater Shop Family