Households across Ireland will gain an extra hour of sleep on Sunday, but the annual time change also signals shorter evenings and the start of winter time.
Ireland is preparing for its annual clock change this weekend, with clocks set to go back by one hour in the early hours of Sunday, October 25.
At 2am, clocks will move back to 1am, giving people an extra hour in bed and marking the end of Irish Standard Time for the summer months. Ireland will return to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT ), which will remain in place until the clocks move forward again in spring.
While the prospect of an extra hour's sleep will be welcomed by many, the change also means darker evenings, with sunset arriving an hour earlier by the clock. The mornings will become brighter earlier, but the loss of evening daylight is often the most noticeable change for people travelling home from work, walking the dog or taking part in outdoor activities.
The clock change is part of the long-standing daylight saving system, designed to make better use of natural daylight throughout the year. Clocks move forward by an hour in spring to provide more daylight during the evenings, before returning to standard time in autumn as the days grow shorter.
The practice was widely adopted in Europe during the First World War, partly to conserve fuel and make better use of daylight. Despite regular debate about whether the system remains necessary, Ireland continues to follow the twice-yearly change.
For households, the transition is relatively straightforward, although not every clock will update automatically. Smartphones, computers and most internet-connected devices should adjust without any intervention. However, traditional wall clocks, watches, car clocks and some household appliances may need to be changed manually.
The shift can also take a little getting used to. Although an extra hour is gained on Sunday morning, changes to daylight and sleeping routines can affect how people feel over the following days. Keeping a consistent bedtime, getting outside during daylight hours and maintaining regular meal times can help make the adjustment easier.
The change can also affect families with young children and pet owners, whose usual waking, feeding and walking routines may not immediately match the new time.
There has been ongoing discussion at European level about ending the seasonal clock changes, with proposals previously receiving support in the European Parliament. However, no agreement has been implemented, meaning the current system remains in place.
For now, the advice is simple: enjoy the extra hour this weekend, check any clocks that do not update automatically and prepare for darker evenings as Ireland moves further into autumn and winter. The clocks are next due to go forward on Sunday, March 28, 2027.
