The Aran Islands, lying on the westerly edge of Europe across the mouth of Galway Bay, have given their name to a style of knitting fostered by the people who live there.

This little book traces the history of what is now an unconquerable symbol of Irish style and almost an Irish emblem - the richly cabled and decorated white hand knit sweater - from its beginning as a necessary home craft to its arrival as an inspiration for some of the major designers in international fashion.