WHAT started as a small kitchen experiment on Inis Oírr has evolved into one of the most recognized handmade food brands on the Aran Islands, crafting rich, creamy fudge using Irish
ingredients.
Man of Aran Fudge was founded over 30 years ago by Tomás Póil, an island farmer looking to diversify his income, who decided to recreate a cherished childhood memory: his grandmother’s homemade fudge recipe. Today, the operation spans the islands. Tomás makes fudge on Inis Mór, while his nephew Eoghan, who joined the business over 10 years ago, man- ages the Inis Oírr side and oversees their online store.
Over the years, the business has expanded its menu to offer more than 30 distinct flavours. In addition to their island bases, the family travels to the mainland during peak seasons, trading at Eyre Square and the Spanish Arch in Galway through the summer, as well as maintaining a stall at the Galway Christmas Market.
While the core recipe remains consistent, the product line occasionally evolves through unexpected inspiration. “We stick to what people love,” says Tomás. “And sometimes customers give us ideas. One of our flavours actually came from my son. He mixed banana
and chocolate together as a kid, made us taste it, and we thought, ‘Why not?’”.
It remains a local product in the truest sense, produced entirely on the islands by islanders. “There aren’t many things made on the
island that tourists can take away with them,” Tomás notes. “Aside from cheese, some crafts, and this.”
For Tomás, the longevity of the business has allowed him to witness generations returning to his stalls. “We have people who first tasted our fudge as children on a holiday to the islands,” he says. “Now they’re coming back as adults, sometimes with children of their own.”
He recalls a young woman who visited his stall recently as a testament to that lasting connection. “A young woman came to me this
morning,” Tomás says. “She was 21, and she remembered her Mam bringing her to the market when she wassix or seven. She’s been
buying fudge ever since. That’s a great feeling.”
