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Exact date clocks go forward in Ireland as 8pm sunsets make a comeback

The clocks in Ireland go forward by one hour on the last Sunday of March, bringing longer evenings, later sunsets and the start of Daylight Saving Time.

[File photo of sunshine at Dun Laoghaire Harbour ]

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File photo of sunshine at Dun Laoghaire Harbour (Image: Stephen Collins /Collins Photos)

The clocks will go forward by one hour in Ireland on the last Sunday in March, marking the start of Daylight Saving Time and the long awaited return of brighter evenings.

After months of dark 5pm sunsets, the change means daylight will stretch further into the evenings, with 8pm and even 9pm sunsets gradually making a comeback.

As meteorological spring approaches, the shift signals the gradual return of longer days, lighter evenings and, hopefully, some much needed sunshine.

This year, the clocks go forward on Sunday, March 29, meaning the sun won't set until nearly 8pm - that's just over five weeks away.

From there, evenings will continue to stretch. By April 18, sunset is expected around 8.30pm, and by the end of the month, it will be close to 9pm.

For anyone with a smartphone or smartwatch, your device will automatically jump ahead from 1am to 2am on March 29, but decorative or manual clocks will need to be adjusted by hand.

While the change means losing an hour of sleep, it also means longer evenings to enjoy the natural daylight.

[Enjoying the sunshine at Bray Head, Co Wicklow]

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Enjoying the sunshine at Bray Head, Co Wicklow(Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)

Ireland isn't alone in this seasonal shift. All EU member states move their clocks forward for Daylight Saving Time, a practice designed to make the most of natural daylight as the Earth orbits the sun.

The European Union voted in 2019 to potentially end Daylight Saving Time altogether after 2021, following a survey showing most people would prefer not to switch clocks twice a year. However, the decision was delayed due to the Covid pandemic.

EU institutions have not made progress on implementing the decision, and the European Commission has said that it does not plan to submit a new proposal on the matter to the Parliament, meaning that no changes are expected to summer and winter time in the coming years.

Later this year, the clocks will go back one hour on Sunday, October 26, giving Ireland an extra hour of sleep while marking the return of shorter autumn and winter evenings.

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