Island Diary.

Until the first daily boat service to Inis Meáin began in the late 1990s, travel to and from Inis Meáin was very difficult, and to this day Inis Meáin remains a remote outpost, where traditions are cherished. A journey to or from the island involves an hour’s ferry journey or a 10 seater plane ride to rural Connemara – neither of which makes a daily commute possible. Hence a seasonal movement of people, both to and from the island, as the visitor season ends and the academic year begins.

And so it is for three of our Design Interns who have just returned to their final year of Fashion Design in Northern Ireland and Germany. As well as learning all aspects of Knitwear Production; knitting, linking, hand finishing, washing, pressing, packing, marketing and selling, our Design Interns help to bring a burst of life to our small community and population of just 160 islanders. We wish Merkele, Cara and Lydia all the best on their onward journeys and hope to see them back in Inis Meáin for a future visit. Here they wear pieces from our Men’s and Women’s Autumn Winter 2023 collection.