O'Brien Irish Heritage – serie

Irish Aran knitting is a living tradition with a worldwide reach. Arans communicate warmth, comfort and a sense of home, which people the world over continue to respond to, even though the connection to our rocky outcroppings in the Atlantic Ocean may be long forgotten. Aran grew up in the harsh environment of the Aran Islands where everyday wear consisted of home-spun fabrics and knits. Today Aran survives as part of a rich craft heritage and as high and slow fashion on the catwalks of the world. Vawn Corrigan explores the history, mythology and growth of this iconic design in this beautiful and informative hardback book.

A celebration of Irish thatch.The picturesque, white-washed thatched cottage is an iconic emblem of Ireland.The tradition reaches back in history to the ancient crannóg and one-roomed labourers’ cottages. Beautiful examples of this still-living craft can be found all over the island, from bustling urban centres and quiet country roads to the wild coasts of the west.Since moving into a thatched cottage several years ago, Emma Byrne has become fascinated by thatched houses and the craft behind them. Armed with a camera, a notebook, and a Sat Nav, she took to the roads, travelling the length and breadth of this island to capture the variety and beauty of Ireland’s thatch. This beautiful new addition to the O'Brien Heritage series is a celebration of the unique beauty and wonder of Irish thatch. The book features a map guiding the reader to over 40 buildings that can be visited, including United Irishmen leader of the 1798 rebellion Michael Dwyer’s hideout cottage in County Wicklow; America’s 28th president Woodrow Wilson’s ancestral home in County Tyrone; Dan Winters Cottage in County Armagh where The Orange Order began; the last miner’s cottage in Kilkenny, the last fisherman’s cottage near Lough Neagh, Thoor Ballylee, the County Galway home of poet WB Yeats;  and a number of pubs, restaurants, art studios and shops around the country, museums (recently restored Casino Model Railway Museum in Malahide, Dublin) and windmills.