Granny; noun: someone’s grandmother; a word that denotes things associated with elderly women.
Uttering this word around any Irish person usually conjures images of a woman in her nineties, wearing a stuffy cardigan and going to mass religiously (pun intended).
The word Granny has been used in a derogatory, and notably misogynistic, way too. If someone under the acceptable granny age bracket for is referred to as one, it is usually meant as an insult.
Therefore, when I first heard that there is a Granny Society at the University of Galway, my first thought was one of puzzlement.
Having not heard of such a society before, I didn’t know what their purpose was. But the more I found out about them, the more their ideas stuck with me.
I was obviously not the only one who was attracted by the concept, since the society had almost 1000 members by the end of its first year.
There was obviously an appetite amongst students for this kind of society – but what was the reason for this explosion of popularity that they experienced?
Nessa O’Connor, one of the founding members of Granny Soc, summed it up:
“It’s a society for crafters of any skill level, and any discipline within fibre-crafts, so whether you just like to darn your socks or make garments from scratch, anyone is welcome”
O’Connor explained: “There’s no expectations or pressure to get involved. It’s just a way to build community amongst craft-lovers”.
The society has four main crafts; knitting, embroidery, crocheting and sewing. They also frequently collaborate with other societies, and have held themed craft nights in collaboration with the drama society, FemSoc, the Time Lord society, and many more.
O’Connor is passionate about crafts, which sparked the original idea for a granny society, way back in 2021.
“During covid, the student’s union held a ‘Humpday Hoolie’ every Wednesday, as a way to socialise during lockdown. They used to have a Stitch-and-Bitch event, and it was super popular.”
“When they eventually finished up, we realised that there was no society for anything craft-related, so we took it upon ourselves to create one”, O’Connor said.
The society subverts stereotypical expectations around age and ‘old-fashioned’ hobbies, and the irony of the name shouldn’t be lost on us; students are leaning into ‘granny energy’, and ensuring that to be perceived as ‘granny-ish’ isn’t an insult anymore – and that the term can be gender inclusive.
In fact, I would go as far as to say that in reclaiming ‘granny’ hobbies, Granny Soc quietly rejects hustle culture. In a world where students simultaneously deal with academic pressure, screen fatigue, and the stress of having to be constantly productive, the idea of slow, tactile, and repetitive work becomes more and more appealing.
Stitch-and-Bitch, Granny Soc’s weekly get-together (Thursdays, @6pm), acts as a necessary space to vent, decompress, and exist without outside pressures. Crafting is a great way to practise mindfulness, and to resist the burnout that can come with deadlines, doomscrolling, and digital overload.
For GenZ students who lived through a pandemic through many of our formative years, the popularity of crafting as a post-pandemic social phenomenon is a no-brainer. Students craved low-pressure social spaces when easing back into life on campus, and a way to foster community that involved gentler forms of connection. And thus, Granny Soc was born.
“A lot of people who hadn’t crafted before got into it over lockdown, and as a result there were many people who wanted to start but didn’t know how.” O’Connor clarified. “Our big focus during our first year was to offer classes for beginners that were free and accessible for members”.
“We found it a great way to get to know each other. Especially among international students, it was a great way for people to get involved and be introduced to the university.”
Not to mention, the growth in self-taught skills such as knitting and sewing go hand in hand with the rise in popularity of sites such as Vinted and Depop. In a fast-fashion world, students are learning how to make their own clothes, and are putting more of an emphasis on sustainability.
Speaking to students, the consensus was clear: the community they have created is invaluable.
“Crafters support each other through teaching each other skills and giving encouragement”, one member commented. “I taught a girl how to crochet there last week, and it was a brilliant way of getting to know someone completely new”.
“I have met loads of friendly people at the Stitch-and-Bitch, and everyone is up to chat and teach skills to those who are new to it”, another member explained, “and there’s pizza!”.
With no prior experience required and no pressure to produce anything perfect, Granny Soc has created a space where participation matters more than ability.
In a university environment that often prioritises productivity over connection, they offer something refreshingly simple: a room full of people, some materials, and the freedom to talk while keeping busy.
What began as a niche society has grown into a weekly ritual for many students – not because they needed another skill to master, but because they wanted somewhere to belong. In choosing to gather around crafts traditionally associated with older generations, students are embracing patience, creativity, and community over speed and spectacle.
