Lee Valley Ireland was founded in the quaint village of Inchigeela in West Cork in 1986. Denis Hurley, saw a market for a traditional Irish grandfather shirt and began drafting patterns and cutting fabric at home, before calling on the sewing skills of local women who operated from their own homes. From this cottage industry the new family business went from strength to strength. In 2011, Lee Valley Clothing celebrated 25 years in business and to mark it, they released a limited edition vintage grandfather shirt.