Examinership of Cork retailer Cummins Sports extended by 30 days

Examiner John Russell of Baker Tilly was appointed as Examiner of the historic Cork retailer in March

Cummins Sports. North Main Steet,Picture: Larry Cummins

The High Court has approved a 30-day extension for the examinership of long-standing Cork retailer Cummins Sports, examiner John Russell of Baker Tilly has said. 

In a statement, Mr Russell said the additional 30 days will facilitate "ongoing work to find a solution that will enable the business to continue trading," while also preserving "as much employment as possible."

The historic brand, co-founded by former GAA star Kevin Cummins, entered examinership in March following a series of economic shocks and a surge of online competitors, with the company generating annual losses since 2023. 

The retailer also closed its two flagship city centre stores in recent years, shutting the doors to its first ever store on Princes Street in 2023. Earlier this year, Cummins Sports closed two more stores, leaving Castlewest Shopping Centre in Ballincollig, as well as exiting its long-standing North Main Street store.

The North Main Street closure marked the end of a 30-year relationship with the busy city centre site, with the retailer shifting its focus to stores in high-performing shopping centres and regional locations. Its store in Bandon also closed in October last year. 

The Little Island-headquartered company has four brick-and-mortar stores left, located at Douglas Court, Blackpool Shopping Centre, Fermoy and Midleton. 

The company employs 74 people in total, with 48 expected to be saved in the examinership process.

GAA Heritage

Founded over 50 years ago in 1971, Cummins Sports has remained closely linked to its GAA heritage, producing its own sliotars which have been used in All-Ireland Hurling Championship Finals since 1976.

At its peak, Cummins Sports, which supplies sporting goods, had as many as 10 shops, about 110 employees and a turnover of €12m in 2007.

In a petition to the High Court, Cummins Sports said in March that it had experienced “significant pressure from the landlords of the four closed stores” and had tried to negotiate settlements but had so far been unsuccessful except in the case of the Ballincollig store.

The company added that it has struggled financially in recent years and “with increasing difficulty" as it has been "weathering a storm over rented premises held under Celtic Tiger leases."

It also said it struggled with increased overheads and input costs, incursion into the market from international competitors and losses of valuable distributorship and sponsorship rights. It also referred to a loss of market share to online trading and the covid pandemic.