This could give Kildare Village a run for its money.

Plans for a €100 million Cork Tourist Outlet Village in East Cork could entice an extra 220,000 tourists to the county every year.

The plans were unveiled this week by Rioja Estates, the largest independent outlet promoter and developer in Europe for more than 25 years and the developers behind the UK’s Swindon Designer Outlet, ICON at The O2 and the Grantham Designer Outlet Village in Lincolnshire (pictured above and below), due to open in 2021.

“Our extensive research over the last four years has shown that there is room for one more Tourist Outlet Village in Ireland.” said Giles Membrey, Managing Director of Rioja Estates.

‘Cork was the preferred setting.’

“A detailed search for potential sites throughout Ireland was undertaken, where it became clear that Cork was the preferred setting, with its unique demographic, transport links, high tourist numbers and positioning, as well as the opportunity to strengthen the region by complementing existing attractions.”

Cork County Council is in the process of varying the County Development Plan to allow for this type of development; and Rioja Estates Ltd. has made a formal submission to the proposed variation No. 2 to the County Development Plan 2014.

If it gets the green light, the developers believe the Outlet Village “will add a unique regional shopping and tourism destination to Co. Cork, serving the south-west of Ireland, and providing an excellent complement to the local towns and Cork City.”

Here are six things to know about the project this weekend:

1. Where will the Cork Outlet Village be located?

A site for Cork Tourist Outlet Village has been identified and secured at Killacloyne, Carrigtwohill, just off the Fota Junction on the N25 in East Cork.

2. When will it open?

Construction of the proposed Cork Tourist Outlet Village will take approximately 24 months. It could be open for business by March 2024.

3. What exactly is an Outlet Village anyway?

A Tourist Outlet Village is a specialist form of retail and tourist destination that sells heavily discounted products not normally found on the high street, for example end-of-line, seconds and out of season goods.

4. Is this going to make my traffic situation worse?

Unlikely. The Outlet Village will operate off-peak, opening at 10am and closing at 8pm, so it should have no impact on rush hour traffic.

5. Will this take business away from towns and the city centre?

According to the developers, the Outlet Village will not offer services such as “banks, building societies, post offices, hairdressers, dry cleaners etc. which help to underpin the vitality and viability of local town and city centres; and therefore complement, rather than compete with town and city centres”.

6. How many jobs will be created?

The proposed development will create approximately 850+ direct jobs and will draw an estimated 220,000 additional tourists to the region annually.