They're thick, hot, and a little itchy. I got a couple of them many years ago. They're great when it's bitter cold or to wear in place of a coat outside. I began washing them in the washing machine using the cold water setting on delicate, plus I put the sweater in a ditty bag. Use a gentle detergent such as woolite. Lay flat to dry. They did shrink a little bit but as a busy parent it was a trade-off. I haven't worn them in a couple of years but love love love them.

Anonymous wrote:We got them in Ireland and rarely wear them. Too hot, too thick under jackets.

I layer a thermal under mine and wear it with a shell in winter. For me, that’s perfect much of the time.

Anonymous wrote:Many years ago, I lucked out while in Ireland and bought a hand-made Irish fisherman-type sweater in a charity shop for 5 pounds. It didn't appear to have been worn at all. I was thrilled!

Until the first time I wore it. It was VERY warm for the DMV area's winters and I rarely wore it. Plus, it was a bit itchy even though it was pure wool.

What does that mean? Pure wool is itchy.

There a nice shop in Middleburg that sells them

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.aran.com/

Sooo...those are actually machine knitted in china and then the prices are simply sewn together in ireland.

Some Italian luxury purses are made in Italy by Chinese workers brought to Italy to work there.

One of the luxury brands was trying to start small-scale production in the US but they were having trouble finding sewers who could meet the quality standards.

Anonymous wrote:My husband is Irish, mother came over from Ireland, and he wanted a proper Irish sweater, so he ordered from Aran. They were horrible, itchy, bad coloring. They ended up in the trash.

I cannot believe you threw it in the trash. Why not at least donate to good will or put on buy nothing? You took a $100+ never worn sweater that is designed to last for a hundred years and just threw it into the trash???? Wow.

Ps I have one that is 50 years old and looks brand new.

Anonymous wrote:We got them in Ireland and rarely wear them. Too hot, too thick under jackets.

If you run cold they are the absolute best. I don’t often wear mine out and about but when I get chilled in the house I put one on. It’s almost impossible to be cold when you’re wearing one and it answers the question of how people lived in those cold damp climates prior to central heating. I agree that for how most people heat their house around here, they are too warm. They also work for a chilly day with a down vest over them—coats with sleeves don’t work great.

The merino ones are not the true Irish sweater of history, but are the modern version for people who live in heated homes.

We got them in Ireland and rarely wear them. Too hot, too thick under jackets.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many years ago, I lucked out while in Ireland and bought a hand-made Irish fisherman-type sweater in a charity shop for 5 pounds. It didn't appear to have been worn at all. I was thrilled!

Until the first time I wore it. It was VERY warm for the DMV area's winters and I rarely wore it. Plus, it was a bit itchy even though it was pure wool.

I got a beautiful one from a friend returning from Ireland and experienced the same thing. Was way too hot and itchy. So beautiful, though. I mailed it to another friend in Northern Michigan.

Look for 100% Merino wool. It’s softer and much less likely to be itchy.

This.

I have an Irish wool sweater and it soften decently by soaking in Eucalan a few times. But I still prefer Merino or a blend of wool/cotton.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many years ago, I lucked out while in Ireland and bought a hand-made Irish fisherman-type sweater in a charity shop for 5 pounds. It didn't appear to have been worn at all. I was thrilled!

Until the first time I wore it. It was VERY warm for the DMV area's winters and I rarely wore it. Plus, it was a bit itchy even though it was pure wool.

I got a beautiful one from a friend returning from Ireland and experienced the same thing. Was way too hot and itchy. So beautiful, though. I mailed it to another friend in Northern Michigan.

Look for 100% Merino wool. It’s softer and much less likely to be itchy.

Anonymous wrote:Many years ago, I lucked out while in Ireland and bought a hand-made Irish fisherman-type sweater in a charity shop for 5 pounds. It didn't appear to have been worn at all. I was thrilled!

Until the first time I wore it. It was VERY warm for the DMV area's winters and I rarely wore it. Plus, it was a bit itchy even though it was pure wool.

I got a beautiful one from a friend returning from Ireland and experienced the same thing. Was way too hot and itchy. So beautiful, though. I mailed it to another friend in Northern Michigan.

Many years ago, I lucked out while in Ireland and bought a hand-made Irish fisherman-type sweater in a charity shop for 5 pounds. It didn't appear to have been worn at all. I was thrilled!

Until the first time I wore it. It was VERY warm for the DMV area's winters and I rarely wore it. Plus, it was a bit itchy even though it was pure wool.

My husband is Irish, mother came over from Ireland, and he wanted a proper Irish sweater, so he ordered from Aran. They were horrible, itchy, bad coloring. They ended up in the trash.

Pendleton