British pub mega-chain JD Wetherspoon has announced plans to open three new bars in Ireland in just over three months.

The Dublin locations will open in Blanchardstown on June 23rd, and Swords on July 21st - while the third will be added in Cork City on September 1st.

The company is due to invest more than €6m developing these new establishments, and some 150 jobs will be created. This will bring total number of JD Wetherspoon pubs in the Republic of Ireland to five.

It is also planning to invest €4m turning a former homeless hostel into a hotel and bar on Dublin's Camden Street.

Chairman Tim Martin told the Irish Times: "Our first two pubs have proven extremely popular and we are looking forward to opening our next three pubs."

"We have also acquired a number of other sites in the Republic of Ireland and look forward, in due course, to developing and opening them as Wetherspoon pubs."

The company has caused disruption since arriving in Ireland almost one year ago by severely undercutting rivals, ditching Guinness and falling out with Heineken.

The company intends to open some 30 pubs across the 26 counties.