About Us
One Hundred Years in the Making
Matthews first opened it's doors in 1904 on Cork's Half Moon Street.
Since then the iconic family-run store has transformed from a leather merchants' to arts & crafts suppliers to a sports shop and finally to outdoors and lifestyle.
Matthews has always been an innovator in Cork's retail sector, adapting to the needs of the city and the greater Cork & Munster area.
Third generation owners Robin & Bruce opened Munster's first & finest sports shop. Their respective sons David & James pioneered the trend in surf and skate with Ireland's original surf shop - Tubes.
Most of the country's most favored brands in fashion, outdoors and footwear found an early home in Matthews.
Ugg Australia, the North Face, Dubarry, Musto, Animal have all been staples of Matthews since their earliest introductions to the Irish consumer.
The shop with James Matthews at the helm has been in a new premises on Lavitt's Quay since March 2007.
"It was sad to see the old premises go in some ways, but the city was changing with new developments and new buildings and I knew we would have to go with that."
James Matthews, MD,
The Matthews Centre Ltd. Lavitts Quay, Cork.
