Decathlon to open Much Anticipated New Store in Cork
Decathlon has confirmed that its highly anticipated new Cork store will officially open its doors at Douglas Village Shopping Centre on Friday, 16th October 2026 at 1pm.
The new store, located within Tesco at Douglas Village Shopping Centre, will mark Decathlon’s fourth location in Ireland and its first in Cork, bringing the global sports retailer closer to customers across Cork and the wider Munster region.
To celebrate the milestone, Decathlon will host a full weekend of launch events in-store across Friday and Saturday. Customers are invited to join the fun, with a packed lineup of interactive games, exciting prizes, and fun sporting challenges for all ages throughout the opening weekend.
Spanning more than 2,300 sqm of sales space, the new Decathlon will offer thousands of products across a wide range of sports, including running, hiking, fitness, swimming, cycling, football, rugby and padel.
From first football boots and running shoes to camping equipment, bikes and specialist sporting gear, the new store will cater for everyone from those discovering a new activity to experienced athletes.
Customers will also have access to Decathlon services including Click & Collect, providing convenient local access to the brand’s wider online range, alongside circular initiatives such as Buyback, helping to keep quality sporting equipment in play for longer.
Alberto Mendiola, Regional Director of Decathlon Ireland said:
“Opening in Cork is a really special moment for Decathlon. We have wanted to bring a store here for a long time and, since announcing our plans, the enthusiasm we’ve received from people across Cork has been incredible. Cork is a county where sport is part of everyday life, whether that’s on the pitch, on the road, in the water or outdoors. We want our new Douglas store to become part of that sporting community and to make it easier for even more people to discover and enjoy the activities they love. We’re counting down to the 16th of October and can’t wait to finally open the doors and welcome the people of Cork.”
The opening comes as part of a wider transformation of Tesco Douglas, following a multi-million euro investment by Tesco to enhance the shopping experience for customers.
Paul Healy, Retail Operations Director at Tesco Ireland said:“It’s fantastic to see the partnership between Tesco and Decathlon come to life here in Douglas. We know our customers value quality, choice and convenience, and having Decathlon under the same roof adds something completely new to their shopping experience. There has been huge anticipation around Decathlon coming to Cork and we’re delighted that customers will soon be able to experience the new store for themselves. The investment in Tesco Douglas, together with Decathlon’s arrival, marks an exciting new chapter for the store and we’re very much looking forward to opening day.”
Tom Coughlan, owner of Douglas Village Shopping Centre commented:“We’re delighted to welcome Decathlon to Douglas Village Shopping Centre for the opening of its first store in Cork. This is a significant milestone for the centre and reflects our continued commitment to bringing leading international brands and an outstanding retail experience to our customers. Decathlon is a fantastic fit for Douglas and for Cork, a city with such a strong sporting culture and active community. Their arrival further strengthens the centre’s retail offering and reinforces Douglas Village’s position as one of Cork’s leading shopping destinations. We’re proud to play a part in bringing a brand of Decathlon’s calibre to Cork for the first time, and we look forward to welcoming customers from across the city and beyond to experience the new store.”
The Cork opening represents the latest milestone in Decathlon’s continued growth in Ireland. Founded in Lille, France in 1976, Decathlon has grown into a global sporting brand operating in more than 70 countries.
Cork shoppers will be able to discover Decathlon’s specialist in-house brands, including Quechua for hiking and camping, Kiprunfor running, Van Rysel for road cycling and Kuikma for padel.
Further details on the opening-day celebrations and activities will be announced closer to the date.
Slán go fóill.
