wouldn't know, never been there. as far as i do know the larger and mid-sized cities in new england tend to have sizeable "shanty" or "donkey" irish populations, so id assume they  have a "crossover" rather than purely "ivy" image there as well. the clancy brothers got their start singing to millworkers in manchester, new hampshire...and gave more free advertising to the irish wool industry than 100 yrs of adverts could have. in any case, i like the damned things...

/\ I've been there too....in 84 I spent a few months in New Hampshire and had some good nights out in Manchester. My memory is not as good as RS coz I hardly remember any details (though I have a very good reason for the hazy memory) I do remember a good second hand shop clothes shop (vintage shop for our younger bredrin!) from which I had a number of general items, shirts, cardies and the like. The only thing I still have from there is a 50's tartan sort of bowtie style thing (not a bowtie, but it does cross at the neck, popular with 50's prom kings!!!) Funnily enough I found it just yesterday when sorting out my old ties in storage............sorry for the self indulgent post, but this stirred up some nice memeories.

Oh and the Fred Astaire dance studio as well!

I'm looking for an Aran in shawl, or possibly turtleneck (aka polo neck on some UK sites for some reason).  I'm finding some offering in polo neck Aran jumpers, and some offering on shawl collar cardigans, but no shawl collar Aran jumper.  Anyone?

Thanks,

JD

Hey Rip - you were after a reasonably priced lambswool shawl collar cardi, as I recall? Well I was in TKMax in Manchester the other day (I know how you loathe TK Maxx!) and they had loads of lovely pure lambswool shawl collar cardigans by Fredrick Anderson of Copenhagen. I bought one in a mid-grey - lovely thick knit with a broad collar (not like those trendy fashion ones). Twenty odd quid - well worth a look if you can bare going in.