Extra Hour in Bed This Bank Holiday as Daylight Saving Time Ends
This upcoming Bank Holiday weekend, people across Ireland can look forward to an extra hour in bed as Daylight Saving Time (DST) comes to an end. As part of the seasonal adjustment, clocks will go back by one hour, officially marking the conclusion of Irish summertime.
When Do the Clocks Change?
The clocks will be set back at 2am on Sunday, 27 October. At that time, the clock will shift from 1:59am to 1:00am, giving everyone an additional hour of sleep on Sunday morning. Unfortunately for night owls hoping to extend their Saturday night out, pubs and nightclubs won’t stay open for that extra hour. The staff have heard all the jokes before, so best not to try your luck.
This shift compensates for the hour lost when the clocks went forward earlier in the year on 31 March to mark the start of summer.
Why Do We Change the Clocks?
Daylight Saving Time was introduced as a means of making better use of daylight during the longer days of summer. By shifting an hour of sunlight from the morning to the evening, it was believed people would make better use of natural light, saving energy and boosting productivity.
The practice is governed by the European Union's time directive, which mandates that all member states switch to summer time on the last Sunday in March and revert to standard time on the last Sunday in October.
In Ireland, and across Europe, the time change is automatic for smartphones, computers, and smartwatches. However, for other devices like kitchen appliances, wall clocks, and cars, you may need to adjust them manually.
Daylight Saving Time Around the World
Daylight Saving Time is observed in many countries, though not universally. It is most common in Europe, North America, and parts of the Middle East. Countries closer to the equator, where the length of daylight remains relatively consistent throughout the year, typically do not observe DST.
In recent years, the practice has been a subject of debate, with critics arguing that it causes unnecessary disruption to sleep patterns and daily routines. In fact, the European Union has considered scrapping the practice altogether, though a definitive decision has yet to be reached.
As the debate continues, for now, Ireland will still follow the twice-yearly clock changes. So this weekend, don’t forget to wind your clocks back and enjoy that precious extra hour of rest.