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What Are the Most Expensive Shoes in Ireland and Why People Pay Thousands for Them
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In Ireland, where rain is a constant companion and well-made boots are more than fashion-they’re survival-people don’t buy expensive shoes lightly. But when they do, it’s not just about status. It’s about heritage, craftsmanship, and the quiet pride of owning something built to last through decades of Dublin drizzle, Connemara bog walks, and Galway cobblestones. The most expensive shoes in Ireland aren’t always the flashiest. Sometimes, they’re the ones stitched by hand in a small workshop in Cork, lined with Italian leather, and soled with hand-carved oak from County Wicklow.
What Makes a Shoe Worth €10,000?
At the top of the list isn’t a celebrity-endorsed sneaker or a logo-heavy designer flip-flop. It’s the custom-made bespoke leather shoes from the few remaining Irish and UK ateliers that still follow 19th-century techniques. One such example is John Lobb a London-based shoemaker founded in 1849, with a workshop in County Cork that serves Irish aristocracy and global collectors. These aren’t mass-produced. Each pair takes 120 hours, is built on a last molded from your foot, and uses leather tanned in the same way since 1880. A single pair can cost upwards of €12,500.
Why pay that much? Because in Ireland, where winters last eight months and roads are uneven, a shoe that lasts 30 years isn’t a luxury-it’s an investment. A man in Limerick bought a pair of John Lobb oxfords in 1998. He’s had them resoled four times, re-heeled twice, and still wears them to his grandson’s wedding. That’s not just durability. That’s legacy.
Irish-Made Luxury: The Hidden Champions
While most people think of Italian or French luxury, Ireland has quietly built its own reputation for high-end leather footwear. Shannon Leather a family-run workshop near Limerick City, founded in 1972, creates bespoke men’s and women’s shoes using hides from Irish cattle raised on pasture-fed farms in County Clare. Their most expensive model, the Clare Oxblood, uses leather cured with oak bark and blackcurrant extract-a local secret passed down since the 1950s. Each pair is priced at €8,200 and comes with a certificate of origin from the Shannon River Valley.
Another standout is Galway Bootmakers a tiny studio run by a former Royal Navy bootmaker who moved to Galway in 2003 and now crafts waterproofed cavalry-style boots for Irish equestrians and wealthy landowners. Their Connemara Field Boot is lined with lambswool from the Burren, stitched with beeswax-coated thread, and soled with hand-hammered rubber from Donegal. Only 12 pairs are made a year. Waitlists stretch to 18 months.
The Global Elite: What Ireland’s Wealthy Actually Buy
While Irish buyers love local craftsmanship, many still turn to global icons when they want the ultimate statement. The Chanel 2024 Diamond-Encrusted Loafers a limited edition of 17 pairs worldwide, each embedded with 417 white diamonds and lined with calfskin from Normandy sold out in Dublin within 72 hours of arriving at Brown Thomas. The price? €28,000.
Another top seller is the Jimmy Choo x Royal Ascot Collection a 2025 release designed for the Irish racing elite, featuring hand-painted silk uppers and soles inlaid with 24-karat gold leaf. These are worn by Dublin socialites to the Galway Races and the Leopardstown Christmas meeting. Only 25 pairs were imported into Ireland-14 went to private collectors in Killiney and Dalkey.
Even more rare is the House of Dior’s 1967 Reissue a replica of the original stiletto worn by Princess Grace of Monaco, reissued in 2023 with hand-pleated satin and a heel carved from Irish bog oak. One pair was auctioned at Sotheby’s Dublin in 2024 for €41,000-the highest price ever paid for footwear in Ireland.
Why Ireland’s Market Is Different
In the U.S., people buy expensive shoes for Instagram. In Ireland, they buy them for the shed. For the long walk to the back gate. For the funeral. For the wedding that happens every ten years. There’s no point in spending €5,000 on a pair of shoes if they’ll fall apart after two winters. That’s why Irish buyers care about the last, the stitch count, the sole thickness, and the re-soling history.
Even the most expensive shoes in Ireland come with a caveat: they must be repairable. Every top-tier Irish cobbler-from McAuley’s Boot & Shoe Repair in Belfast, established in 1912 to Ó Muirí’s in Cork City, where the owner still uses a 1947 lasting machine-has a waiting list. And they won’t touch a shoe that can’t be restored. That’s why bespoke Irish-made shoes hold their value. They’re not disposable. They’re heirlooms.
What You Can Actually Afford in Ireland
If €10,000 is out of reach, don’t worry. The Irish market still offers incredible value. Claddagh Footwear a Dublin brand using recycled Irish wool and vegetable-tanned leather from County Tipperary makes hand-stitched loafers for €950. They’re not diamond-encrusted, but they’re built to outlast five pairs of fast fashion boots.
Another smart buy: Johnston & Murphy an American brand with a Dublin stockist that offers hand-lasted leather shoes for €1,200, with a lifetime repair guarantee. Many Irish buyers swear by them because you can send them back to the UK for resoling, and they’ll come back looking like new.
And then there’s the secondhand market. In Dublin’s Temple Bar, Shoe Vault a boutique that specializes in pre-owned luxury footwear sells 1980s Gucci loafers for €1,800-less than half their original price, and still in excellent condition.
The Real Value: Longevity Over Labels
Here’s the truth: the most expensive shoes in Ireland aren’t the ones with the biggest logo. They’re the ones that survive the wettest spring in Mayo, the coldest winter in Donegal, and the longest walk to the church on Christmas morning. They’re the ones your grandchildren might wear one day.
When you buy a pair of handmade Irish leather shoes, you’re not just buying footwear. You’re buying a piece of Irish craftsmanship that honors the old ways-slow, thoughtful, and made to endure. That’s why, in a country where the weather doesn’t care about trends, the best shoes are the ones that outlive them.
Are expensive shoes worth it in Ireland’s wet climate?
Yes-if they’re properly made. Cheap shoes rot in Irish rain. High-quality leather shoes, especially those with hand-stitched soles and waterproofed linings, can last 20 to 40 years. Many Irish families pass down a single pair of boots across generations. The upfront cost is high, but the long-term value is unmatched.
Where can I get luxury shoes repaired in Ireland?
Top repair shops include McAuley’s Boot & Shoe Repair in Belfast, Ó Muirí’s in Cork City, and Dunne’s Cobblers in Galway. These places specialize in bespoke and luxury footwear. Avoid chain repair shops-they often use glue and machine stitching that ruins handmade shoes. Always ask if they use lasts and hand-waxed thread.
What’s the most expensive shoe ever sold in Ireland?
The most expensive shoe sold in Ireland was a 1967 Dior stiletto reissue, featuring a heel carved from Irish bog oak and hand-pleated satin. It was auctioned at Sotheby’s Dublin in 2024 for €41,000. The buyer was a private collector from Killiney who wanted to own a piece of fashion history with a distinctly Irish twist.
Do Irish designers make luxury shoes?
Absolutely. Shannon Leather, Galway Bootmakers, and Claddagh Footwear are all Irish brands that make luxury footwear using local materials and traditional techniques. Their shoes are often more expensive than mass-market brands but far more durable and uniquely Irish. Many are worn by judges, politicians, and even members of the Irish aristocracy.
Can I buy expensive shoes online in Ireland?
You can, but be careful. Many online sellers offer counterfeit luxury shoes. Stick to authorized retailers like Brown Thomas, Dunnes Stores’ luxury section, or direct from the maker’s website. For bespoke Irish shoes, you’ll usually need to book a fitting in person-either in Dublin, Cork, or Galway. Shipping alone doesn’t guarantee quality.
Next Steps: How to Start Your Own Luxury Shoe Journey
If you’re thinking about investing in high-end footwear, start small. Visit a local cobbler and ask them to show you the difference between a machine-stitched sole and a hand-stitched one. Try on a pair of Shannon Leather oxfords or a Claddagh loafer. Feel the weight, the texture, the way the leather bends. Then compare it to a €200 pair from a high street store.
Ask about repair options. Ask how long the soles last. Ask if the leather is vegetable-tanned. These aren’t just questions-they’re the markers of real quality.
In Ireland, the best shoes aren’t the ones you buy for a night out. They’re the ones you wear to the funeral, the wedding, the harvest, and the first snow. They’re the ones you don’t throw away. They’re the ones that remember you.
