Irish Time
The following is a list of general hours of operation for establishments in Ireland. This is a general guide, as opening hours will vary.
Banks are usually open about 10:00 AM and close at about 12:30 PM for lunch. They reopen at about 1:30 PM and generally close sometime between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM Monday through Friday.
Post offices are open Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM and usually close for one-hour at lunchtime.
Shops are generally open Monday through Saturday 9 AM to 5:30 PM. Most shops are open late on Thursday and Friday until about 9:00 PM. Some shops and stores close for one hour at lunchtime. Many shops are closed on Sunday.
Pharmacies in small villages and towns usually close about 5:30 PM during the week and are closed on Sunday. There is usually a 24 hour pharmacy in larger cities.
Most shops and pharmacies are locally owned and will sometimes open by special arrangement and/or emergencies.
Most importantly, the pubs usually open about 11:00 AM and give last call about 11:00 - 11:30 PM Monday through Saturday. On Sunday the pubs open around 12:00 PM and may close at 2:00 PM and reopen about 4:00 PM. On Sunday, pubs had to close midday (2:30 PM - 3:30 PM) for Holy Hour by law. They are now permitted to stay open all day. However, some may still follow the tradition of closing midday especially in the smaller towns and villages.
Restaurants keep various hours. However, full service establishments and many pubs stop serving early by some standards. If you want to have dinner it would be a good idea to check their hours in advance. A good rule of thumb is to arrive no later than 8:00 PM. Otherwise you could be dining on crisps (potato chips) and candy bars at the local food shop or petrol station.
B&B's are not hotels. The B&B proprietors do not want to be up all night. Therefore, if you are going to be late checking in (say after 6 PM) you should call ahead and let them know.
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