Countdown on to turning the clocks back in Ireland
As autumn deepens, Ireland prepares for the annual shift back to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). In three weeks’ time on Sunday, 26 October at 2:00 AM, clocks will revert to 1:00 AM, granting an extra hour of sleep and marking the end of Daylight Saving Time. This change is in line with the EU’s practice of adjusting clocks on the last Sunday of October each year.
Sunset Times: A Noticeable Change
The impact of this time change is evident in the sunset times. On Wednesday, 1 October 2025, the sun set in Dublin at 7:01 PM, providing 11 hours and 34 minutes of daylight. By Sunday, 2 November 2025, just one week after the clocks go back, the sun will set at 4:50 PM, offering only 9 hours and 24 minutes of daylight.
Why Do Clocks Go Back?
The practice of changing the clocks dates back to World War I, introduced to conserve fuel by making better use of daylight. Today, the primary reason for the time change is to align waking hours with daylight hours during the longer days of summer, reducing the need for artificial lighting and saving energy.
Looking Ahead
After the clocks go back on 26 October, they will move forward again on Sunday, 29 March 2026, at 1:00 AM, marking the return of Daylight Saving Time.
