Fisherman Out of Ireland

Contemporary Irish knitwear made from first stitch to final press in Kilcar, County Donegal, using luxurious natural fibres and colours inspired by the wild Atlantic landscape.

Fisherman Out of Ireland is a multi-award-winning Irish knitwear brand based in Kilcar, a small Gaeltacht village on the south-west Donegal coast. Founded in 1991 by the Blarney Woollen Mills family business, it has spent more than three decades developing a distinctly modern interpretation of Irish knitwear while keeping production firmly rooted in County Donegal.

The location is central to the brand. Kilcar lies between the dramatic Sliabh Liag cliffs and the fishing port of Killybegs, with the Atlantic, mountains and local fishing communities providing a constant source of colour, texture and inspiration. Rather than recreating traditional Aran knitwear exactly as it has always been made, Fisherman Out of Ireland takes the authenticity of Irish knitting and translates it into contemporary shapes, modern fits and yarns designed to feel exceptionally comfortable against the skin.

Every garment in the men’s and women’s collections is made at the company’s knitting factory in Kilcar. From the first stitch through to the final press, production takes place in Donegal, where a skilled team of artisans brings together knitting technology, hand-finishing and generations of local textile knowledge. Many members of the team have worked with the company for decades, giving the business a depth of experience that is increasingly rare in modern fashion manufacturing.

Natural fibres are a defining part of the collection. Fisherman Out of Ireland works with premium yarns including merino wool, cashmere, alpaca and other carefully selected natural-fibre blends. The emphasis is on softness, warmth, durability and long-term wear rather than disposable seasonal fashion. The brand also places sustainability at the centre of its material choices, describing its knitwear as sustainably made using 100% natural and luxurious fibres.

The collections span both menswear and womenswear, with contemporary sweaters, cardigans, polos, jackets, vests, hats, scarves, handwarmers and other accessories. Colour is especially important: muted Atlantic greys, sea blues, natural stone, mossy greens, oatmeal, peat, berry and richer seasonal tones reflect the landscape surrounding the factory without becoming overly literal or traditional.

Although its roots are in Donegal, Fisherman Out of Ireland has developed a substantial international following. The company says that more than 70% of what it makes is exported around the world, supported by agents and specialist retailers across Europe, North America and other international markets. That global reach is significant because the product remains genuinely made in the same small Irish village where the brand began.

Visitors travelling the Wild Atlantic Way can also call to the Fisherman Out of Ireland showroom at Ballymoon in Kilcar. The company actively invites visitors to stop by and see more of the collection, making it possible to discover the knitwear in the landscape that inspires it. As factory schedules and annual holidays can affect access, it is sensible to contact the team before making a special journey.

The online shop makes the collection available beyond Donegal, while the brand’s care guidance reinforces the long-life approach behind the product. Knitwear is intended to be hand-washed or dry-cleaned, folded rather than hung, and cared for so that it can remain in use for many seasons.

Why W.ie chose Fisherman Out of Ireland: Fisherman Out of Ireland represents exactly the kind of contemporary Irish manufacturing W.ie wants to make easier to discover. It is not simply an Irish-inspired label: every piece is genuinely knitted and finished in Kilcar, the company has maintained skilled employment in a small Gaeltacht village since 1991, and the Donegal landscape is visibly reflected in the yarns, colours and design language. At the same time, the brand has successfully taken modern Irish knitwear to an international audience without moving production away from home. For anyone looking for beautifully made Irish clothing with authentic provenance, natural materials and a contemporary rather than souvenir-led aesthetic, Fisherman Out of Ireland is an exceptional W.ie find.