Portwest Past

The Heritage & History of Portwest

From a small shop on Bridge Street in 1904 to an international outdoor and workwear brand, Portwest’s story is rooted in Westport and the Wild Atlantic Coast.

Founded in 1904 by Charles Hughes, the son of a small farmer on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Coast, Portwest began when he opened a retail store on Bridge Street in Westport, Co. Mayo after purchasing the premises for just £100.

Although the company is now renowned globally for its workwear and PPE , it is still owned and managed by the Hughes family in Westport.

From its early beginnings as the fledgling Charles Hughes store, nestling under the mighty shadow of Croagh Patrick, Portwest – The Outdoor Shop has served the people of Mayo and beyond with the best value and quality in outdoor clothing and footwear for over a century.

Charles Hughes shop, Bridge Street (now Portwest)

Charles Hughes’ original shop on Bridge Street, Westport – the beginning of the Portwest story.

We remain humble and proud of our heritage and our history in the West of Ireland and pride ourselves on being an authentic Irish brand with 120 years’ experience in producing outdoor clothing. Today Portwest has stores in Westport, Galway and Killarney. The Portwest Outdoor clothing range is designed in Westport and we continue to develop clothing that delivers peak protection in the great outdoors.

When Charles Hughes set up his shop on Bridge Street in 1904, he could not have envisaged such a turbulent future. He was committed to the Land War and national struggle, which led to Charles and his staff being intimidated, arrested and imprisoned. Westport was a place of great unrest in the early 1920s. Like many other homes and businesses, his shop was ransacked and bombed.

The company has been a witness to history over the past 120 years and today we are as committed to community development as Charles Hughes and his colleagues were in the past. Below is a timeline of our founding father's journey to see Westport prosper and the story behind how our brand developed:

Charles Hughes Timeline

1904

On 17th August 1904, Mr. Charles Hughes married Miss Jennie Armstrong.

Mr. Charles Hughes and Miss Jennie Armstrong Wedding Photograph, 17th August 1904.
1904

Charles Hughes buys Lennon's Footwear shop for £100 in August and expands into drapery in October.

First advertisement in The Mayo News for the opening of the Charles Hughes store.
1916

Charles Hughes, his brother Owen and nephew Paddy are arrested and interned in Wales for eight months.
1917

Charles Hughes' nephew and shop assistant, Paddy Hughes (age 18), drowns at Westport Quay on 7th August.
1919

Charles Hughes Wholesale is founded on Mill Street (now The Mariner hotel).
1920

Charles Hughes goes “on the run” from November 1920 until May 1922.
1921

Crown forces bomb the Charles Hughes shop and wreck his home on 23rd March. Mrs. Jennie Hughes holds a salvage sale of remaining stock on 30th April.

This advertisement for the salvage sale appeared in The Mayo News on 30th April 1921, after the bombing of Charles’ shop.
1922

Charles Hughes holds a “Great New Opening” sale on 6th May after reconstructing his shop.
1933

Charles Hughes introduces his first brand, “An Chruach” – the Irish name for “The Reek”, the local name for Croagh Patrick.
1936

Pádraig Hughes, nephew of Charles Hughes, joins the business. Pádraig, the father of current owners Owen, Harry and Cathal, later takes over Charles Hughes Limited from his granduncle.

Pádraig Hughes and his wife, Márie Hughes (née Kelly), daughter of PJ Kelly.
1984

The Portwest brand name is registered.
1986

A number of styles are introduced under the Portwest brand and the name appears for the first time on company letterheads.
1992

The mountain logo is introduced and Portwest garments are made in China for the first time.
1993

The Westport shop takes on the Portwest name, changing from Charles Hughes to Portwest.
1999

Westport Clothing Ltd becomes Portwest Ltd on 15th March. The logo is redesigned.
2013

Portwest launches a complete collection of outdoor clothing in the Heritage Collection.

Portwest Heritage Range 1904.
2014

Portwest celebrates 110 years in business and the Hughes family host a heritage-themed day in Westport. A commemorative book is launched, celebrating the rich history of the business from its humble beginnings and the political, social and economic obstacles it has faced.

In the same year Portwest opened the Galway store on High Street (formerly Kenny’s bookshop and art gallery).
2017

Portwest opens a new 3,000 square foot shop at 94 New Street, Killarney.
2020

Portwest launches its new website – TheOutdoorShop.ie – to sell its range of outdoor clothing nationwide, in a drive to become “Ireland's favourite Outdoor Retailer”.
2021

Portwest is announced as a commercial partner of Mayo GAA. The five-year sponsorship deal places the Portwest logo on the back of all Mayo jerseys. The logo is also rebranded.
2022

Portwest opens its newly refurbished flagship store.
2024

Portwest celebrates 120 years in business.
2025

Portwest launches the 1904 Collection, a new heritage-inspired outdoor range that reflects the craftsmanship and resilience of the original Charles Hughes store on Bridge Street. The collection blends classic West-of-Ireland styling with modern performance fabrics.

The Portwest Harry Jacket is introduced — a flagship outerwear piece named after Harry Hughes, recognising his decades of leadership and innovation. Designed in Westport and built for Irish weather, it represents a new milestone in Portwest’s outdoor clothing development.