Sit-up guys, A&F may be hiring

Men of Ireland, bin that kebab and put down that pint: there might be jobs going in Abercrombie and Fitch.

The American clothing company yesterday opened the doors of its Irish flagship store on Dublin’s College Green, with an estimated 300 people gathered at the entrance by the 11am grand opening.

Abercrombie and Fitch is a clothing company famous for having models wearing very little clobber. Due to yesterday’s chilling temperatures, most of the perfectly chiselled staff had to wrap up in jackets and hats, but at the entrance to the cavernous store was a young man straight out of Beverly Hills casting and sporting the customary Peter Andre-style six pack (kids, ask your Mum).

Fashion-free old codgers like your humble reporter can sneer all they like, of course. The throngs storming the Fitch citadel yesterday had their own views as to what treasures could lie inside.

Fran Garry and her daughter Clare Murray were among those in the queue yesterday, with Clare sporting a jacket bought in the Abercrombie & Fitch New York store four years ago. “It’s still intact and great at keeping me warm,” Clare, from Navan, said.

Fran said they had visited the store in New York previously and said the clothing was always of good quality. “I’m not surprised that there’s a queue, she said, before adding: “I often thought with the New York store that they just had a queue to make it look good, and that it was nearly empty inside.”

Not so yesterday, with hundreds flitting around the 6,730 sq ft of retail space. The enterprise is employing 300 staff in full-time and part-time positions, offering employment to a number of students attending nearby Trinity College.

A spokesperson for the store said 50 Abercrombie & Fitch models had been flown over last Friday for the photocall and had stayed around to help with the opening. Of the 50 fitbods, it seems two are — hallelujah! — Irish.

Given that the Americans will have to head away at some point, it suggests an opening for Irishmen with sit-up skills and access to bronzer.

The chap in jeans and an open red jacket yesterday was certainly American, and possibly named Corey, although that’s just a guess. Shoppers posing for photos didn’t seem to care either way, and sisters Emily and Rebecca Peacock from Walkinstown queried whether Irish lads could ever quite personify the clean-cut, hunky ideal as easily as Corey.

“No,” they said when asked if they thought Irish men could reach the same six pack heights. “Too pale, too pasty,” Emily said. “They might go for the farmer look,” said Rebecca.

Over to you, gents.