Oldest Shoe Brand in Ireland and Beyond

When you think of the oldest shoe brand, a footwear maker with over a century of continuous production, often rooted in handcraft and local materials. Also known as heritage footwear, it’s not just about age—it’s about durability, repairability, and how well it survives real life. In Ireland, where rain is constant and cobblestones are everywhere, the oldest shoe brands didn’t survive by chasing trends. They survived because they made shoes that lasted. One name stands out in Irish history: Herring & Sons, a Dublin-based cobbler turned manufacturer that began making leather shoes in the late 1800s. This brand didn’t just sell shoes—it built a reputation on fixing them, too. That’s the Irish way: if something works, you don’t throw it away.

What makes a shoe brand truly old isn’t just when it started—it’s what stayed the same. Traditional traditional shoe making, a process using hand-stitched soles, vegetable-tanned leather, and lasting techniques passed down through generations still lives in a few Irish workshops. These aren’t factory-made. They’re shaped by hand, lasted over wooden lasts, and stitched with waxed thread. That’s why a pair from a heritage brand can outlive three or four pairs of cheap imports. You’ll see it in the posts below: Irish women keep their Herring & Sons boots for decades, not because they’re trendy, but because they’re the only thing that doesn’t leak in a Galway downpour. And it’s not just about the leather—it’s about the structure. A good old-school shoe has a firm heel counter, a flexible sole, and a shape that follows your foot, not the other way around.

The Irish leather shoes, footwear made in Ireland using locally sourced or ethically tanned leather, often designed for wet conditions and rough terrain you’ll read about here aren’t luxury items. They’re workwear. They’re the kind of shoes your grandmother wore to the market, your uncle wore to the farm, and your neighbor still wears to the pub on a Saturday night. These shoes don’t need to be flashy. They need to grip wet stone, resist saltwater, and survive a 10-mile walk in February. That’s why the oldest brands stuck to simple designs: lace-up oxfords, sturdy brogues, and waterproof boots with thick soles. No glitter. No logos. Just leather, stitch, and soul.

You’ll find posts here about how to spot real quality leather, why Irish people still buy shoes made locally, and how to keep them walking for years. You’ll learn why brands like Herring & Sons still have loyal customers—not because they’re expensive, but because they’re reliable. And you’ll see how modern Irish fashion doesn’t ignore heritage—it builds on it. The oldest shoe brand in Ireland isn’t just a relic. It’s the reason your feet stay dry when the rest of the country is soaked.