Brown Thomas co-founder Hilary Weston dies aged 83

Irish Daily Mirror

12 hours ago

The CEO of Brown Thomas Arnotts has paid tribute to the luxury department store's co-founder, Hilary Weston, in the wake of her death.
Mrs Weston, who also helped build Penneys, died at the age of 83, her family has confirmed.
The Irish-Canadian businesswoman, who was also the former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, passed away in England, where she had been living in recent years.
Donald McDonald, CEO of Brown Thomas Arnotts, described her as a remarkable figure in Irish business, culture, and philanthropy.
He 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, I offer our heartfelt condolences to the Weston family at this time.
'Her memory and impact will not be forgotten.'
Mrs Weston 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.
Mrs Weston was later a vice-chair of the Weston's Canadian luxury retail chain, Holt Renfrew.
Confirming her death, 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 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.
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.
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