Marks & Spencer is to open its first store in the southeast of Ireland at the Showgrounds Shopping Centre in Clonmel Town.

The 23,000 sq ft store will anchor the scheme and offer men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, a food hall and an M&S café. It will bring 100 jobs to the area.

The Showgrounds Shopping Centre, which covers 120,000 sq ft, is due for completion in May next year.

M&S head of Ireland Jonathan Smith said: “We have been looking for a suitable site in the southeast and are very pleased to have secured such a great location. We look forward to bringing a wide range of quality M&S products and service to customers in Clonmel and the wider area.”

M&S was advised by CBRE in London.

Savills HOK agent Peter O’Meara said: “The centre will have a strong fashion focus and we are now in ongoing negotiations for a second anchor for the scheme, as well as a number of other national and multinational brands.”