inishmore, the largest of the 3 aran islands, is also the most accessible. up through the 17th century, the galway area was an important trading center, and control of the islands was hotly contested because of their strategic location, but as galway's importance waned, the islands became somewhat isolated and forgotten. while traditional culture gradually eroded on the mainland, here, it remains strong. to this day, many locals still speak the irish language, live in thatched cottages, and use horse-drawn carriages. when the writer john millington synge asked william butler yeats for advice on writing, yeats told him to go to the aran islands. here, synge not only found inspiration, he immortalized the islands in his play "riders to the sea." perhaps you know that the classic irish knit sweaters originated on these islands. i was intrigued to learn that the celtic symbols on the sweaters represent different elements of irish life. woman: now, that is a typical aran sweater-- hand-knitted and 100% lamb's wool, and it has the typical patterns. this pattern he