Kilkenny business features in famous American publication

The international spotlight shun on Padmore & Barnes in Kilkenny City last month as the iconic Wall Street Journal had included a classic P20 moccasin from the store as one of a list of great fashion items to buy for your man this Christmas.

Following its publication, staff at the local store reported a surge in sales with the volume over seven times the average. The store based on Wolfe Tone Street is one of the longest established companies in the area. The company was established as a shoemaker in 1934 and has had a storied journey through the last 90 years.

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During that time the company actually changed hands several times, including a 25 year ownership by the famous British owned Clarks Shoes. But for the last thirty years the company has been under the control of the local Roberts family making it a true Kilkenny project.

Nowadays Padmore and Barnes are still shoemaking under their own brand in a lovely craft based shoe factory in northern Portugal. The store now caters to Japan, South Korea, USA, Canada and France as well as delivering small numbers of footwear being sold in up to 20 other countries.