Decathlon Is Opening Its First Cork Store This October

Cork, your sporting moment has arrived. Decathlon is set to open its first ever Cork store at Douglas Village Shopping Centre on Friday, 16th October 2026 at 1pm — and if you’ve been making the trip to Dublin or ordering online just to kit the kids out for football, swimming or the great outdoors, this one’s for you.

The new store will be Decathlon’s fourth location in Ireland and its first in Munster, which is a genuinely big deal for anyone who’s ever driven past a half-empty sports shop wondering why no one stocks decent hiking boots in a size 4. At over 2,300 square metres, it’s not a small operation either. Think thousands of products across running, cycling, football, rugby, swimming, hiking, fitness and padel — all under one very large, very well-stocked roof inside Tesco Douglas.

A proper launch weekend

To mark the opening, Decathlon will host a full weekend of in-store celebrations across Friday 16th and Saturday 17th October. There’ll be interactive games, prizes and sporting challenges for all ages, which honestly sounds like the kind of thing that could keep the kids entertained while you quietly disappear into the cycling section. Full details on the activities will be announced closer to the date, so it’s worth keeping an eye on Decathlon’s channels.

Alberto Mendiola, Regional Director of Decathlon Ireland, said: “Opening in Cork is a really special moment for Decathlon. 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.”

What’s actually in the store

Beyond the big brands, Decathlon carries its own specialist in-house ranges that are genuinely worth knowing about. Quechua covers hiking and camping gear, Kiprun is their running line, Van Rysel handles road cycling, and Kuikma is their padel range — because yes, padel is absolutely taking over and your children will almost certainly want to try it within the next six months.

From first football boots and beginner swim gear to proper camping equipment and bikes, the store is designed to cater for everyone from the “we’re giving this a go” stage right through to seasoned athletes. Services will include Click & Collect for the wider online range, and a Buyback scheme that lets customers trade in quality used equipment — handy when your eight-year-old has outgrown their bike for the third time in two years.

Part of a bigger transformation

The Decathlon opening is part of a wider revamp at Tesco Douglas, following a multi-million euro investment by Tesco to upgrade the overall shopping experience. Paul Healy, Retail Operations Director at Tesco Ireland, said: “Having Decathlon under the same roof adds something completely new to the 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.”

Tom Coughlan, owner of Douglas Village Shopping Centre, added: “Decathlon is a fantastic fit for Douglas and for Cork, a city with such a strong sporting culture and active community. We’re proud to play a part in bringing a brand of Decathlon’s calibre to Cork for the first time.”

The new Decathlon Cork store will open at Douglas Village Shopping Centre on Friday, 16th October 2026 at 1pm. More details on the launch weekend activities will follow closer to the date.