Hilary Weston, businesswoman behind Penneys and Brown Thomas, dies aged 83
She was born in Dún Laoghaire in 1942 as the eldest of five children and married Irish-Canadian billionaire Galen Weston in 1966.
She was prominent in the early days of Penneys and later ran Brown Thomas after her husband bought the retailer.
Ms Weston was later a vice-chair of the Weston's Canadian luxury retail chain, Holt Renfrew.
A statement by her family said: 'A beloved wife, proud mother, cherished sister, adoring grandmother and loyal friend, Hilary's life was shaped by her quiet strength, enduring generosity, and a deep commitment to helping others.
"Over their loving 55-year marriage, Hilary and the late W. Galen Weston supported each other in family, business and community life, with a mutual devotion to public service.
'From her early days working as a fashion model to support her widowed mother and younger siblings, to her decades as a distinguished business leader, philanthropist and public servant, Hilary lived a life of deep and far-reaching impact.'
Tánaiste and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Harris, paid tribute to the late businesswoman, describing her as a 'very proud Irish-Canadian, who served both Ireland and Canada with distinction and generosity'.
In a statement he said: 'I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Hilary Weston.'
'In addition to her successful businesses and public service in Canada, through her leadership of the Ireland Funds Canada, she made a lasting contribution to Irish-Canadian relations.
'I extend sincere condolences to her children, Alannah and Galen, and the entire Weston family,' Mr Harris added.
In a joint statement, Brown Thomas said: 'Everyone at Brown Thomas Arnotts is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Hilary Weston - a truly remarkable person. Along with her husband Galen, her vision and enduring support for Irish culture and Irish enterprise laid the foundations for the success we enjoy today.
'On behalf of all of us at Brown Thomas Arnotts, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the Weston family at this time. Her memory and impact will not be forgotten.'
In early days of Penneys, Ms Weston designed dresses which she had made up by local makers to put in the window for sale for young women to buy for Saturday night dances.
She worked with her friend, Cecily Macmenamin, to support Irish designers, including Sybil Connolly, Paul Costelloe, Philip Treacy and Louise Kennedy. She also brought International designers to Ireland, such as Armani, Louis Vuitton, Hermes.
In recent years she initiated the Hilary and Galen Weston Scholars at Trinity Business School and the MA in Sustainable Business.
She said when receiving her honorary degree at Trinity that she went out to work so the boys could go to university.
She is survived by her two children, Allanah Weston and Galen Weston Jr, and predeceased by her husband, Galen Weston, who died in 2021 following a long illness.
In a statement, Galen G. Weston said: 'As Ontario's 26th Lieutenant Governor, she shone a light on the contributions of volunteers, women, and youth. Her lifelong passion for the arts, education, health research, and volunteerism culminated in recent years with the creation of The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation.
"Since 2021, the foundation has committed close to $150 million to innovative charities impacting healthcare, education, women, refugees and the environment in Canada, Ireland and the UK.
'Hilary's business acumen was equally remarkable, helping to shape the future of luxury retail as deputy chair of Holt Renfrew and a director of Brown Thomas & Co. and Selfridges Group; and with her husband Galen, co-creating Windsor, a celebrated residential community in Florida, reflecting their shared love of design, architecture, and nature.
'Our mother lived with unwavering devotion to her family and a belief in the power and importance of community and service. Brilliant, brave, companionate, and beautiful, she brought a touch of magic to everything she did - in her decades of public service, philanthropy and her remarkable business career. Her greatest joy was the life she created for her family and friends—filled with warmth, love, and fun.'
Speaking after the death of Ms Weston, Ibec CEO Danny McCoy said: 'Hilary Weston played a pivotal role in the early development of two iconic brands, Penneys and Brown Thomas, and is regarded as a titan of the retail industry. She was instrumental in the formative years of Penneys, following the Weston family's acquisition of the struggling Todd Byrne's department store and the creation of the low cost fashion retailer. She took direct responsibility for overseeing the production of clothing for the company's original in house label, Primark, a name that would eventually become the brand's identity internationally beyond Ireland.
'But for many, she is best known for her significant contributions beyond her distinguished retail career. She was a committed and highly regarded philanthropist, overseeing the donation of hundreds of millions of euro over the years. This included the establishment of the Ireland Fund of Canada and her service as lieutenant governor of Ontario, during which she donated her salary to an initiative aimed at helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds find employment.
'Our thoughts are with her friends and family at this very sad time,' Mr McCoy said.
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