Keady – The Town of Tailors: A Stitch in Armagh’s Heritage
A Town Woven in Thread
In the heart of County Armagh, surrounded by green fields and winding country roads, sits the market town of Keady. Today, it’s a peaceful place best known for its friendly community, bustling main street, and a few long-standing family businesses. But if you walked through Keady in the early to mid-1900s, the air would have carried a distinct sound — the rhythmic hum of sewing machines, the quick snip of tailor’s shears, and the occasional thud of a heavy iron pressing seams.
This was no ordinary market town. For much of the last century, Keady had a unique claim to fame: it was known far and wide as “The Town of Tailors.”
Tailoring wasn’t simply an industry here — it was the heartbeat of the place. Nearly every street had a workshop, every family knew someone in the trade, and every man in town had, at some point, been measured up for a suit by a local craftsman.
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The Rise of Tailoring in County Armagh
The tailoring tradition in County Armagh dates back centuries, but in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it flourished like never before. The surrounding farmland and linen industry provided access to high-quality fabrics, while the growing middle class created a steady demand for well-made garments.
Keady became a hub for this craft for two main reasons:
Skilled Labour – The town had an abundance of men and women trained in needlework, cutting, and pressing. Tailoring was a respected profession, offering reliable income and a source of pride.
Community Demand – Local life was steeped in events that required “best dress” — weddings, christenings, Sunday services, and fairs. A man’s suit was his badge of respectability, and Keady tailors made sure it was worn well.
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What Made Keady’s Tailors Special
While tailors could be found in towns across Ireland, Keady’s tailoring reputation stood apart for a few reasons:
True Bespoke Craftsmanship – Measurements weren’t just taken once. The tailor would bring the customer back for fittings, ensuring every seam and button sat exactly right.
Durability & Longevity – Garments weren’t designed for a single season. A well-made Keady suit could last decades with care.
Family Connections – Most tailors knew their clients personally. They’d made the father’s wedding suit, altered the son’s first school trousers, and fitted the grandson for his confirmation jacket.
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A Day in the Life of a Keady Tailor
In those golden days, a Keady tailor’s workshop was a place of quiet industry. The morning might begin with rolls of cloth being measured and cut. Heavy shears would glide through the fabric with a satisfying shhhk, guided by chalk marks from the previous day’s measurements.
Apprentices learned the trade by doing — basting seams, ironing pleats, threading needles — while the master tailor handled the precision work of shaping collars, adjusting shoulders, and setting sleeves. The smell of steamed wool filled the room, and the occasional burst of conversation or gentle laugh drifted over the sound of the sewing machines.
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Tailoring and Community Identity
Tailoring in Keady wasn’t just about clothes — it was part of the town’s cultural identity. Many of the town’s social interactions revolved around the tailor’s shop. You didn’t just come for a suit; you came for a chat, a catch-up on local news, and maybe a quick cup of tea while waiting for a fitting.
The tailors were more than tradesmen — they were trusted members of the community, keepers of stories, and silent witnesses to countless milestones. They knew who was getting married, who had just landed a new job, and who was emigrating to America. Every suit, jacket, and overcoat carried a story stitched into its seams.
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The Decline of “The Town of Tailors”
Like many traditional trades, tailoring in Keady began to decline in the second half of the 20th century. Several factors contributed:
Mass-Produced Clothing – The rise of ready-to-wear fashion meant customers could buy suits off the peg at a fraction of the cost.
Changing Lifestyles – Casual clothing became the norm, reducing the need for formal, bespoke suits.
Economic Shifts – Younger generations sought work in other industries, leading to fewer apprentices and a slow fade of tailoring skills.
By the late 20th century, many of Keady’s once-busy workshops had closed their doors. The sound of the tailor’s shears was replaced by the click of clothes hangers in department stores.
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The Last Tailor Standing – Hugh McElvanna
Amid this change, one man has kept a link to the past alive: Hugh McElvanna. As the last tailor in Keady, Hugh represents not just a trade, but an entire chapter of the town’s history.
Hugh’s journey into tailoring was shaped by years of training and experience beyond Keady. Having spent two years at J. Kelly’s in Derry city completing the prestigious London Diploma in cutting and measuring, he remained in Derry for a further five years honing his skills. From there, he moved to Armagh to manage John Patrick’s on Thomas Street before finally returning home to open his own premises on Kinelowen Street in Keady — the very shop where he continues his trade today.
From his well-known shop on Main Street, Hugh offers more than just a place to buy clothes. While the shop now specialises in ready-to-wear menswear — from suits and shirts to footwear and accessories — Hugh’s tailoring skills remain central to his work.
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Why Alterations Still Matter
Today, Hugh no longer creates suits entirely from scratch. Instead, he focuses on professional alterations for garments purchased in-store, ensuring every customer leaves with a perfect fit. It’s a service rooted in tradition: each alteration is done with the same care, precision, and pride that Keady tailors were known for generations ago.
In the age of fast fashion, alterations are often overlooked. But in heritage menswear, a proper fit is everything. A jacket that sits perfectly on the shoulders, trousers hemmed to the exact right length, and a waistline tailored to the wearer’s shape — these details elevate a garment from “good” to “exceptional.”
Hugh’s alteration service honours this principle. Whether shortening sleeves, taking in a waistcoat, or adjusting trousers, he applies decades of tailoring experience to achieve a flawless finish. It’s not just about clothing; it’s about how that clothing makes the wearer feel — confident, comfortable, and well-dressed.
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Keady’s Tailoring Heritage Lives On
While Hugh may be the last working tailor in the town, the story of Keady’s tailoring heritage remains woven into the fabric of the community. It lives on in the photographs of weddings past, in the treasured suits passed down through families, and in the pride of wearing clothing that truly fits.
It also lives on in Hugh’s dedication to his craft. Every hem, every seam, every carefully pressed crease is a nod to the tailors who came before him — men and women who built Keady’s reputation as The Town of Tailors.
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A Town Worth Remembering
For those visiting County Armagh, Keady may seem like a quiet, unassuming place. But to those who know its history, it’s a town with a rich story stitched into its very identity. Walking down Main Street today, you may no longer hear the hum of dozens of sewing machines, but you can still step into Hugh McElvanna Menswear and find the heart of that tradition beating strong.
Here, in a shop where past and present meet, the values of heritage tailoring are still honoured: quality, attention to detail, and a commitment to serving the customer. It’s a reminder that while fashions may change, the principles of good tailoring never go out of style.
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Why Heritage Matters in Modern Menswear
In a world of disposable clothing, heritage tailoring stands as a counterpoint. It’s about garments designed to last, built with skill, and finished with care. While Keady may no longer have the dozens of tailors it once did, the lessons of its past are more relevant than ever:
Fit over Fast Fashion – Clothes should fit the wearer, not the other way around.
Quality over Quantity – A few well-made garments will serve better than a wardrobe full of fleeting trends.
Connection over Convenience – A relationship with a tailor is more than a transaction; it’s a partnership in style.
Hugh McElvanna’s work embodies these values. Each alteration he makes carries with it the history of Keady’s tailoring craft, and each customer he serves becomes part of that story.
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Visiting Hugh McElvanna Menswear
For those seeking traditional menswear in County Armagh, a trip to Hugh’s shop is more than just a shopping experience. It’s a step back into a time when clothing was personal, when craftsmanship mattered, and when a tailor’s work was a source of local pride.
From premium suits and blazers to shirts, trousers, and accessories, the shop offers a curated selection of clothing for men who appreciate quality. And for those who value a perfect fit, Hugh’s in-house alterations ensure every piece sits just right.
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Final Thread
Keady’s days as The Town of Tailors may belong to history, but its legacy is still very much alive — stitched into every garment that leaves Hugh McElvanna’s shop. In keeping this tradition alive, Hugh not only serves his customers but also honours the generations of craftsmen who made Keady a name known far beyond County Armagh.
In a fast-changing world, that kind of dedication is something worth wearing proudly.