About Us

The Cobbler was founded by Tom Dwyer and his wife Sinead in 1980. Tom had worked for 12 years in Lee Footwear Cork where he trained in all facets of shoe making, since his main role during those years was in product development. That role meant that he had an in depth knowledge of every department from leather buying to designing to the finishing of the many types of shoe produced in the factory.

Due to a flood of imported shoes coming into the Irish market at that time, Lee Footwear became a victim of the changing times, as did many other traditional footwear and textile manufacturers and ceased production in 1980.

It was then that Tom and Sinead took the decision to open a Shoe Repair Shop in Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork. Helped by a few staff from the factory, where the business still thrives to this day. They also opened a second shop in Douglas Court Shopping Centre in 1990 ten years after the opening of their flagship store.

Such was the demand for the service at that time, that The Cobbler had four full time staff doing nothing but repairs. All types of repairs were carried out then and are still carried out today. Soling and heeling shoes is the most common type of repair, but we also carry out all types of stitching repairs to shoes, boots and bags including zip replacement. Shoe dyeing is also a speciality.

In 2005 there was a fire and the town closed the shop but the business kept going.

Over the years, the volume of shoe repairing has reduced quite significantly which has meant that the Cobbler has had to diversify into other services such as key cutting, engraving, watch repairs as well as selling a complete range of shoe care products, leather bags, belts, purses and gents wallets.

 

We closed our Oliver Plunkett Street shop (see Irish Examiner) but we are still going stong in Douglas Court shopping Centre, and now we have our online shop!