TRUE to its Scandinavia roots it happened not with the cutting of a ribbon but the sawing of log – Ikea Dublin’s general manager Garry Deakin extolling to hundreds of eager would-be shoppers the company’s “passion for home furnishings”.

The wait ended today for thousands of Ikea lovers when the Swedish furniture giant opened its first store in the Republic.

Ireland's first Ikea store opens today with more than 1,000 shoppers an hour expected through its doors.

THOUSANDS of eager shoppers will be heading to Ireland’s new flat-pack capital on Monday to get more for their money at IKEA’s new Dublin store.

IKEA’S first store in the Republic will finally open for business at the end of July, the furniture giant said yesterday.