A Danish home retail brand, seen as a rival to Swedish furniture giant IKEA, is to open 15 stores across Ireland.

JYSK says it will create more than 200 jobs in the next two years.

Founded in 1979 by Lars Larsen, JYSK has expanded to 51 countries with more than 2,700 stores worldwide employing 23,000 people.

The first Irish store will open in Naas, Co Kildare in April - with two further stores opening in Drogheda, Co Louth and Navan, Co Meath in May.

Image: JYSK

A fourth store will open in Portlaoise, Co Laois during the summer.

Announcing the jobs, the company is looking to fill deputy store manager and sales assistant positions in Naas, Navan, Drogheda and Portlaoise.

There are full time and part time positions available and interested applicants can apply here.

Commenting on the opening, head of retail Roni Tuominen said: "Ireland is a very important market for us, given the prominent position the retail industry holds in the country for employment and the economy.

"As a company, we focus on entering a new market each year, and we are excited that 2019 is the year we bring our brand to Ireland.

Image: JYSK

"We will open here with our latest concept stores and deliver exceptional quality products at great prices to Irish consumers."

JYSK offers a range of products for the home, from the bedroom to the garden.

In Germany and Austria its stores are called Dänisches Bettenlager - in the rest of the world, JYSK.