An Post has honored the iconic Aran Jumper with a new stamp collection released on February 19.
Designed by artist Sally Caulwell, the collection features two designs. The domestic post 'N stamp' depicts a jumper as it is being knitted, with needles and wool. Meanwhile, the W stamp for worldwide postage shows a completed Aran Jumper.
Made on Galway's Aran Islands, the traditional cable-patterned Aran Jumper was originally knitted with thick, undyed wool that retained its natural
lanolin, to make it water-resistant – the ideal garment for fishermen.
It can take hand-knitters up to six weeks to complete a jumper, which typically involves more than 60,000 stitches uniting to form intricate cable, diamond, basket, and honeycomb designs. The garment was originally made for family members, but by the early and mid twentieth century, women in the west of Ireland began making them for sale.
Aran Jumpers have since been adapted for the modern world with looser knitting and a less dense texture. Today, they are typically machine-knitted and mass produced, but the Aran Jumper remains an emblem of Ireland and
Irishness.
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The Aran jumper has been proudly worn by Irish artists and musicians, such as the Irish folk music group The Clancy Brothers, to showcase their heritage. The garment has also been donned by international celebrities, including Grace Kelly, Taylor Swift, Marilyn Monroe, and Steve McQueen. Ireland's Olympians recently wore the jumper at the opening of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy.
Stamp Design Manager with An Post, Aileen Mooney told RTÉ: "The stamps came about as part of our Stamp for Ireland series, where we cover a stamp topic that is a symbol of Irishness, both in Ireland and around the world.
"Previously, we'd have done Irish breakfast or the weather, specifically the rain, and this time around, we're celebrating the Aran jumper which is such a part of the Irish identity.
"It's also something that is sustainable fashion, which is really popular and really important to Irish business.
The stamps are available either individually or as a sheet of four. More information can be found here.
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