How far would you go for a decent piece of knitwear? The smart answer here is almost to the ends of the Earth, by which we mean Inis Meáin, a tiny, rocky outcrop jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, a 45-minute boat ride off the Irish coast. We say almost because, as the name roughly translates from Irish, Inis Meáin is the “middle island” of the Aran Islands. Not that we’d discourage you from visiting Inis Mór, the westernmost, largest and – with a population just under 900 – most bustling of the three islands, as well as host of Ted Fest, an annual fan convention that centres around the late-1990s Chanel 4 sitcom Father Ted. But if you’re in the neighbourhood, it would be rude not to stop by.

Sure enough, MR PORTER did indeed make a pilgrimage to the island back in the summer of 2018, although we were too late for Ted Fest, which generally runs in February – and the place does resemble Craggy Island. But thankfully, unlike its fictional counterpart, here, knitwear doesn’t come baked into a banana cake.

The Aran sweater has earned a reputation as the hardy cable-knit garment of choice for weather-beaten fishermen, and with good reason. But these days, the highly skilled knitters employed by Inis Meáin the brand on the island that shares its name ensure that this is anything but a heritage industry. Amid the latest batch of items to arrive from the westerly isle will you find bright colours, materials such as silk, linen and organic cotton and more contemporary designs alongside the Celtic knotwork. In fact, the company produces up to 50 different styles each season – many quite a step away from your traditional báinín. Although not a step too far, given that this stronghold of Irish culture extends to barely 4km at its longest flank.

Modern, global style and age-old Irish methods: that really is having your cake and eating it.