Ruby Shoes for special style

Michelle Kirwan's new Ruby Shoes business is a first for Kilcullen, the first store in town devoted exclusively to fashion shoes and accessories for women.



A mother of three, now living in Kilcullen for about a year and a half, Michelle says it came about in one sense reflecting her own love of shoes which she inherited from her mother.

"Who in turn inherited it from her own mother," she laughed as she told the Diaryhow setting up the shop represents a complete change from her previous career in recruitment.

As for women and shoes, a relationship peculiar to the fair gender and a mystery to men, she quips that it's just a 'genetic defect' in all women.

Michelle's mother is Frances Styles, well known from the Clane Musical Society and an interior designer in her own right, so her expertise was very useful in renovating and outfitting a premises beside Bank of Ireland which had been derelict for many years.

"I've had lots of people stopping by already to say how glad they are to see the shop done up, that it brightens up this part of town," Michelle says.

The very visible and welcome refurbishment was just the final element in a process of developing the idea and sourcing suppliers, many of them unique to Ruby Shoes, which Michelle carried out while on maternity leave from her previous job. Most of her stock comes from Italy, and some from Spain. In addition to ladies shoes, Michelle also sells designer handbags and some childrens footwear.



"It's really for women who just love shoes and are willing to travel to get something special," she says. "The ones I've picked are a little bit different. They have a style and elegance not always found in the standard fashion outlets in the shopping centres. Definitely I can provide something different for the ladies going to Punchestown, for instance."

Handbags by Laura Sole from Italy are exclusive to Michelle's shop and she believes they'll sell particularly well, as each one is an individually crafted item. She's also stocking some special costume jewellery accessories.

The shop itself is an exercise in simplicity and good use of existing elements like the old wooden floor. Strategically placed mirrors make it seem much larger than it actually is. And the chaise longue centerpiece is both a practical resting place during the arduous work of trying on new shoes and an elegant item in its own right. Much of the work was carried out under the hands-on supervision of her husband Ollie.

Ruby Shoes was officially opened last night by the Mayor of County Kildare, Cllr Finnoula Dukes. Michelle's many friends all came in support. If it was an art gallery, we suspect that many of the items of stock on display would have finished the evening with a little red sticker signifying they had been bought.





Brian Byrne.