Hours of Business

Shops

Most shops open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Thursday is late shopping day, when shops don't close until 9 p.m.  Sunday trading is still not widely practised but it is on the increase, particularly in out-of-town shopping centres, of which there are many on the periphery of Dublin. Local convenience stores and many larger supermarkets will have longer opening hours than other shops. Some supermarkets stay open until 7 p.m. while convenience stores will often open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Banks

Banks open at 10 a.m. and close at 4 p.m, except on Thursdays when they stay open until 5 p.m. Banks in the city centre do not close for lunch, while branches outside the city centre may close from 12.30 p.m.-1.30 p.m.

Bars

Recent moves to liberalise the licensing laws have spelled longer opening hours for bars. Bars may now open from 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. in winter and summer, with 30 minutes 'drinking-up' time. Bars now have the option of opening later at the weekend with last drinks served at 12.30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, also with 30 minutes 'drinking-up' time. An increasing number of bars in Dublin have special dispensations or licences to open as early as 7 a.m. and others may apply for exemptions to extend closing time beyond the aforementioned times.

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