My name is Máirín(Maureen) and my knitting brand is called 'Mamó Knitwear'.'Mamó' is the Gaelic word for grandmother and since I have three young grandchildren who call me 'Mamó', I considered it appropriate to give my company that name.

I am a native of Inis Meáin (Inishmaan), the middle island of the Aran Islands, in Galway Bay. I grew up among Gaelic-speaking girls and women who were always crafting -- knitting, sewing, crocheting, etc. The men made baskets and cow-hide shoes (pampooties) among other handcraft artifacts. Most of my friends knitted.

I learned to knit when I was about five years old, by using two feathers that I scrubbed clean from our hen house. They were soft, pliable and safe to use. I knitted with wool, shorn from our own sheep, that my mother had spun, on our big Spinning Wheel.

I knitted my own cardigan before I was nine years old. Even though it is a bit shapeless, I was very proud of it, and considered it a great achievement. I learned all the different Aran Patterns, and by age twelve I was designing and knitting heavy Aran jumpers that were sold for pocket money.

My friends and I used to engage in a knitting race in order to see who the fastest knitter was. We would measure a few lengths of yarn, knot the end, and whoever knitted up to the knot first won the race!

We had nicknames which we still use for some of the patterns:
Honeycomb = Ochtín Mór ('The Big Eight');
Zig-Zag = An Corrán Cam ('The Crooked Sickle / Crescent');
Tree of Life = An Chraoibhín ('The Little Branch');
Trellis = Muileataí Beaga (Little Diamonds).

I also enjoy crochet and am particularly proud of a shawl I crocheted for my mother. The women on our island wore traditional shawls that were multi-colored. I also made my granddaughter her First Communion veil, in Carrickmacross Lace. Even though I hadn't previously worked with lace, it turned out quite well.

I'm interested in all crafts, but knitting is my passion. It is my hobby and my therapy, all in one. I design and knit all sorts of garments — jumpers, cardigans, headbands, scarves, gloves, caps, socks for men, women, children — and dogs!

I hope people like my work, and I look forward to receiving their requests.
~ Máirín Ui Choigligh Mamó Knitwear