The Aran Jumper

As an internationally recognised symbol of Irishness, the Aran jumper carries emotionally charged ideas about kinship and nativeness. While many believe this culturally significant design to have medieval or even pre-Christian origins, it was actually developed in a canny act of marketing during the 1930s. Despite this surprising history of invention, the jumper carries an important sense of cultural identity for Irish communities, both within Ireland and across the global diaspora. This chapter explores the myths and meanings which surround the Aran jumper, and the fascinating political and social interconnections which have influenced its development.