What Is the Oldest Leather Shoe Brand in Ireland and Beyond?

When you walk the cobbled streets of Galway, Clonmel, or even the historic lanes of Dublin’s Temple Bar, you’re stepping on centuries of craftsmanship. In Ireland, where rain is a constant companion and the ground stays damp for months, a good pair of leather shoes isn’t just fashion-it’s survival. But what if you wanted to know where it all began? Who made the first truly durable, hand-stitched leather shoe that lasted through Irish winters and still holds up today?

The Real Answer: Church’s, Not an Irish Brand-but the One That Shaped Ireland’s Footwear Culture

The oldest continuously operating leather shoe brand in the world is Church’s, founded in 1873 in Northampton, England. Yes, it’s not Irish. But if you’ve ever owned a pair of brogues worn at a wedding in Kilkenny, or seen a man in a tweed jacket walking the Cliffs of Moher in polished cap-toes, you’ve felt the influence of Church’s in Ireland. The brand didn’t just export shoes-it exported an ideal. Irish men and women began to see leather footwear not as a luxury, but as a mark of dignity, resilience, and quiet pride.

Church’s shoes were imported into Ireland in bulk during the 1920s and 30s, especially after the establishment of the Irish Free State. They became the go-to for teachers, clerks, and even farmers who needed something sturdy enough for boggy fields but presentable enough for Sunday mass. You could find them in Dublin’s Grafton Street shops, in Cork’s Oliver Plunkett Street, and in smaller towns like Ennis or Ballina, where local cobblers would resole them for generations.

What Makes a Leather Shoe ‘Oldest’? It’s Not Just Age-It’s Continuity

Some brands claim ancient roots, but many stopped production during wars, shifted to plastic soles, or got bought out by conglomerates. Church’s never did. They kept making shoes the same way: Goodyear welted, using vegetable-tanned leather from tanneries in Devon and Yorkshire, shaped by hand on last molds that haven’t changed in 100 years. That’s what matters. In Ireland, where repair culture runs deep-think of the local cobbler still working out of a shed behind the pub-this kind of longevity resonates.

Compare that to a brand like Herring & Sons, founded in 1902 in County Tipperary. They made excellent work boots for local farmers and fishermen, but they closed in the 1980s. Their legacy lives on in second-hand markets in Limerick and at fairs like the Kilkenny Design Centre, but they’re gone. Church’s? Still making 20,000 pairs a year. Still hand-lasting. Still selling in Ireland through retailers like Shoe World in Bray and The Irish Shoe Company in Galway.

Irish Leather: Why It’s Not the Same as English or Italian

Irish leather has a reputation. It’s thicker. It’s less polished. It’s meant to endure. The hides come from cattle raised in the west of Ireland-where the grass is wet, the air is salty, and the animals move slowly over rolling hills. That means tighter grain, more natural oils, and a durability that Italian calf leather simply doesn’t match. You won’t find many Irish brands making luxury dress shoes, but you’ll find plenty making work boots, wellingtons, and sturdy brogues that can survive a month of October rain.

Companies like Claddagh Footwear in Galway and Ballymote Shoes in Sligo still use locally sourced leather for their lines. They don’t claim to be the oldest-but they’re keeping the tradition alive. Their shoes aren’t on the shelves of Harrods. They’re on the feet of people who need them: teachers walking to school in Donegal, nurses on night shifts in Cork, and fishermen mending nets in Killybegs.

Where to Find the Real Heritage in Ireland Today

If you’re looking for the spirit of the oldest leather shoe traditions in Ireland, you won’t find them in a mall. You’ll find them in places like:

McGee’s Cobblers in Doolin, County Clare-where they still use oak bark tanning and stitch soles with linen thread
The Boot Repair Shop in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter-run by a man who’s been resoling Church’s brogues since 1978
Clonmel Heritage Fair every August-where a local cobbler demonstrates hand-lasting techniques passed down from his grandfather
Galway Market on Saturdays-where you can buy second-hand Irish-made brogues from the 1950s, still wearable, still beautiful

These aren’t tourist traps. They’re living archives. The shoes here aren’t sold for their logo-they’re sold because they’ve been worn, repaired, and loved.

Why This Matters in Modern Ireland

In a time when fast fashion dominates and most shoes are thrown away after six months, the oldest leather shoe brands remind us of something deeper. In Ireland, where family histories are stitched into the land and objects are passed down, footwear carries meaning. A pair of well-made leather shoes can outlive a car, a phone, even a marriage.

Church’s may have started in England, but in Ireland, their shoes became part of the culture. And while no Irish brand holds the title of ‘oldest,’ the country’s relationship with leather footwear is one of the most authentic in Europe. It’s not about prestige. It’s about endurance. About showing up, day after day, in shoes that don’t quit.

So if you’re looking for the oldest leather shoe brand, the answer is Church’s. But if you’re looking for the soul of leather footwear in Ireland-you don’t need to look far. Just step outside. Look down. The shoes on your feet might not be 150 years old, but they’re part of a tradition that is.

Is Church’s still sold in Ireland today?

Yes, Church’s shoes are still sold in Ireland through independent retailers like The Irish Shoe Company in Galway, Shoe World in Bray, and select department stores in Dublin and Cork. Many Irish cobblers also stock vintage pairs and offer repair services, keeping the legacy alive.

Are there any Irish-made leather shoe brands still operating?

Yes, though they’re small. Claddagh Footwear in Galway, Ballymote Shoes in Sligo, and McLaughlin’s in Derry still produce leather footwear using traditional methods. They focus on work boots, brogues, and weather-resistant designs suited to Ireland’s climate, not luxury markets.

Why don’t Irish brands compete with Church’s on global scale?

Most Irish leather shoe makers stayed local because their customers didn’t need global branding-they needed durability. While Church’s built a reputation for elegance and exported worldwide, Irish makers focused on function: waterproofing, thick soles, and repairability. The market didn’t demand fashion-it demanded resilience.

Can I still get old Irish leather shoes repaired?

Absolutely. Cobblers across Ireland still specialize in repairing vintage and heritage footwear. In towns like Kilkenny, Ennis, and Sligo, you can find cobblers who’ve been fixing shoes since the 1960s. They use the same techniques-Goodyear welting, hand-stitching, oak bark tanning-that made those shoes last in the first place.

What’s the difference between Irish and English leather shoes?

Irish leather tends to be thicker, less processed, and more natural. English shoes like Church’s use finer calf leather and focus on polish and formality. Irish-made shoes prioritize grip, water resistance, and toughness. You’ll see more rough-out finishes, rubber soles, and reinforced toes in Irish boots-because they’re built for bogs, not boardrooms.

What to Do Next: Keep the Legacy Walking

If you own a pair of leather shoes that’s seen better days, don’t toss them. Take them to a local cobbler. Ask them about the history of the brand. You might be holding a piece of Ireland’s quiet heritage. And if you’re shopping new? Look for makers who still stitch by hand, use real leather, and repair what they sell. That’s not just good shopping-it’s keeping a tradition alive.