Twice a year, the clocks in Ireland change by one hour as part of the practice called daylight saving time, also known as summer time or daylight savings. If you're new to the country or just looking for a quick reminder, here are the two dates to mark on your calendar for 2026, plus what the change means and why it still happens.

For expats, this matters more than most realise. If you're calling family in Pakistan, India, or the Philippines, the clock change shifts the time difference across time zones and can mess up your usual call schedule.

The Short Answer

In Ireland, clocks change twice a year on the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October.

Clocks go forward: Sunday, 29 March 2026 at 1am. The time jumps forward by one hour to 2am.

Clocks go back: Sunday, 25 October 2026 at 2am. The time goes back by one hour to 1am.

This schedule is confirmed by Citizens Information and matches the rest of the EU's seasonal time changes, which are still observed despite discussions about ending daylight saving time.

Winter Time and Summer Time

Ireland uses two time settings each year, switching between standard time and daylight saving time.

Winter time (October to March) is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), also written as UTC+0 or standard time. This is the same time as the UK and Portugal, and one hour behind most of the EU.

Summer time (March to October) is Irish Standard Time (IST), also written as UTC+1 or daylight saving time. This brings Ireland one hour ahead of GMT for the brighter half of the year, often called the summer months.

A useful way to remember which way the clocks change: "spring forward, fall back." In spring, the clocks move forward an hour, so you lose an hour in bed. In autumn, they move back an hour, so you get an extra hour of sleep.

When Do Clocks Go Forward in 2026?

Clocks go forward by one hour at 1am on the last Sunday of March. At 1am, the time on the clock skips ahead to 2am.

Date: Sunday, 29 March 2026 (mar 2026)

The morning after, you'll notice less light in the early hours and more light in the evenings. In Dublin, the first 8pm sunset falls on April 1. This marks the official start of summer time in Ireland, also called daylight saving or daylight savings in everyday use.

When Do Clocks Go Back in 2026?

Clocks go back by one hour at 2am on the last Sunday in October. At 2am, the time on the clock moves back to 1am.

Date: Sunday, 25 October 2026

You'll get an extra hour of sleep that night, but evenings will start getting dark much earlier, bringing more darkness to the country as winter approaches. This marks the start of winter time.

What Devices Update Automatically?

Most modern devices update automatically with the clocks change. These don't need a manual adjustment:

Smartphones (iPhone, Android)

Laptops and computers

Smart TVs and streaming devices

Smart meters and smart home devices

Most modern wall clocks with internet sync

These usually need to be changed by hand:

Older microwave and oven clocks

Car clocks in older vehicles

Wall clocks with hands

Some alarm clocks and bedside radios

Older wristwatches

If you're not sure, the easiest check is to compare the device against your phone the morning after the clock change.

Why Does Ireland Change the Clocks?

The original idea behind daylight saving time was to make better use of daylight hours during the longer days of summer. The clocks shift forward in spring so that evenings feel longer, moving an hour of daylight toward the evening so the sun sets later in the day, giving people more light after work.

Ireland first introduced summer time in 1916 under the Time (Ireland) Act, partly as a wartime measure to save energy. Around the summer solstice, Ireland gets about 16 hours of daylight on average. After the summer solstice, daylight hours begin to decrease gradually. This system of changing clocks twice a year has been adopted and observed ever since, in sync with Britain, the UK, and most of the EU.

Will Ireland Stop Changing the Clocks?

Maybe, but not soon.

In 2019, the European Parliament voted in favour of ending seasonal time changes and the practice of daylight saving time. The European Parliament voted for a bill that suggested each EU country pick either permanent summer time or permanent winter time and stay on it year-round, ending the need to change clocks twice a year.

However, EU institutions have made little progress on implementing this plan. The European Commission has confirmed it does not plan to submit a new proposal to the Parliament, which means the current system of seasonal time changes will continue for the foreseeable future. The plan has been discussed and reviewed but not adopted, so for now, mark both Sundays on your calendar each year.

What This Means for Expats Calling Home

If you've moved to Ireland from South Asia, the Middle East, or Africa, the clock change shifts how far ahead your family is in their local time zones. Here's the rough picture for some of the most common corridors:

Most South Asian and African countries do not observe daylight saving, so when Ireland changes its clocks, the time difference shifts by one hour for them too.

The clock change also affects when money transfers land. If you usually send money home on a Sunday evening Irish time, that's now arriving earlier or later in your family's local time. For weekend pickups at a cash agent or wallet recharge, that timing can matter.

ACE Money Transfer processes most transfers in seconds for bank deposits and mobile wallets like JazzCash, EasyPaisa, bKash, Nagad, and UPI, so you don't need to plan around the clock change. For more on settling into Irish life, see our financial guide for Pakistanis in Ireland.

Wrapping Up

Twice a year, Ireland nudges its clocks forward and back by one hour. The dates for 2026 are Sunday, 29 March 2026 (mar 2026) to go forward and Sunday, 25 October 2026 to go back. It's a small piece of life in Ireland but worth knowing, especially if you have family across multiple time zones.

If you send money home regularly, the clock change is also a small reminder to update your call schedule and check your usual transfer times. ACE Money Transfer is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and sends to over 100 countries with a fee-free first transfer.

Start your first transfer with ACE today.

FAQs

When do the clocks change in Ireland in 2026?

Clocks go forward on Sunday, 29 March 2026 at 1am, and back on Sunday, 25 October 2026 at 2am.

Do clocks go forward or back in March?

Forward. At 1am on the last Sunday of March, the clocks jump forward by one hour to 2am, meaning you lose an hour of sleep but gain longer evenings.

Is Ireland on the same time as the UK?

Yes. Ireland and the UK use the same time year-round, switching between Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter and Irish Standard Time (IST) or British Summer Time (BST) in summer.

Will Ireland stop changing the clocks?

Not in the near future. The European Parliament voted in favour of ending seasonal time changes in 2019, but the plan has stalled, with little progress in EU institutions on implementing that decision, and the European Commission no longer plans to submit a new proposal.

Do all devices update automatically?

Most modern devices like smartphones, laptops, and smart TVs update on their own. Older clocks, microwaves, oven displays, and some car clocks need to be changed manually.

References

Breen, C. (2026, February 20). Daylight saving 2026: When do the clocks change in Ireland? Selectra.https://selectra.ie/energy/news/clocks-forward-ireland-2026

RAC Drive. (2026, March 29).When do the clocks change? RAC. azzzhttps://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/know-how/when-do-the-clocks-change/

Raidió Teilifís Éireann. (2026, March 23). Everything you need to know about the clocks changing in 2026. RTÉ. https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/living/2026/0323/1564728-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-clocks-changing-in-2026/

Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, regulatory, tax, business, or financial advice. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of ACE Money Transfer. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no warranty is given as to the completeness, accuracy, or currency of the information. Services and practices mentioned may vary by provider and jurisdiction. Readers should consult qualified professional advisors before making any financial or business decisions.