Cummins Sports set for a revamp as examinership saves four Cork stores 

The High Court has approved a scheme which will see its four Cork units continue to trade, with founders Kevin and Brendan Cummins set to retire from the business

The sports retailer is set to be revamped to face the evolving challenges facing the retail market.

Cork-founded sports retailer Cummins will continue to trade after the High Court approved a scheme of arrangement following a 30-day extension of its examinership. 

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.

In a statement, examiner John Russell of Baker Tilly Ireland said creditors have unanimously approved the scheme.

"The scheme will see an investment from members of the Cummins family and the sale of a number of company properties that are no longer in use. Shareholders will not receive any proceeds as part of the scheme," Mr Russell said. 

"Cummins Sports will continue to trade from its four remaining units in Douglas Court, Blackpool Shopping Centre, Fermoy and Midleton. We wish the business well in the future."

Following the examinership process, it is understood that both Kevin and Brendan Cummins will retire from the business after 55 years.

The company will now be taken over by Brendan's children, Áine Caldwell, Kevin Cummins Jr., and Mary Claire Cummins, it is understood, with the sports store set to be revamped to face the evolving challenges facing the retail market. 

The company employed 74 people before entering examinership, with 48 expected to be saved.

The retailer 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 locations, 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 city centre site. Its store in Bandon also closed in October last year.

'Renewed opportunity to build a stronger, more sustainable company'

A statement from Cummins Sports said: "We are delighted to announce the successful conclusion of our examinership process, marking an important new chapter for our company and securing the future of 60 jobs in Cork.

"Today’s outcome is the result of an extraordinary collective effort. Over the past year and particularly throughout the last three months during the examinership process our team has demonstrated remarkable resilience, professionalism and commitment to ensuring the future of the business.

"We want to sincerely thank every member of our staff for their dedication and support during what has been an exceptionally challenging period. Difficult decisions had to be made, including redundancies, and we are deeply grateful to those colleagues who have contributed so much to the business over the years. We wish everyone who has left the company every success and happiness in the future.

"For those remaining with the business, today’s outcome provides a renewed opportunity to build a stronger, more sustainable company. We are proud that this process has enabled us to preserve 60 jobs in Cork and provide a solid platform for future growth.

We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to the professional advisers whose expertise and commitment were instrumental throughout the process. Colin and the team at LLoyd Bowmaker - In particular, we thank Tom O’Byrne, Colm Manning & Aeibhin Cahalane of O’Flynn Exhams, together with the team at for their outstanding support and guidance. We also acknowledge Ashling Walsh & Stephen Scanlon of Ronan Daly Jermyn, who acted on behalf of the examiner, and extend our heartfelt thanks to the examiner, John Russell of Baker Tilly, whose dedication and professionalism throughout the court protection process were exceptional.

"Finally, we would like to thank our suppliers, customers and business partners for the confidence and support they have shown us during the examinership period. Their continued belief in our business has been invaluable.

"Our focus now is firmly on the future. We are committed to growing the business, strengthening our relationships with customers and suppliers, and demonstrating that an Irish family business, supported by conscientious restructuring, strong leadership and dedicated people, can emerge stronger and succeed. We believe this is not simply the end of an examinership process, it is the beginning of a new chapter for the Cummins Sports company."

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 had 10 shops, about 110 employees and a turnover of €12m.

In a petition to the High Court in March, Cummins Sports said 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.