When do the clocks go forward in Ireland in 2023?

The mornings are getting noticeably brighter as we enter the spring months - and from tonight onward, we'll see even more light when the clocks go forward.

The clocks are set to go forward one hour on Sunday, March 26, and they'll go back one hour on Sunday, October 29. For anyone that uses a smartphone, it will automatically update with the correct time, while clocks will need to be manually updated.

All EU member states go back at this time, and our last clocks change happened on October 30, 2022 when the clocks went back one hour. Here's everything you need to know about the clocks going forward one hour later this month.

When does it happen?

The clocks will go forward tonight Sunday, 26 March from 1am. It means our clocks will instead jump ahead to 2am, giving us less time in bed but more time daylight in the evenings.

Does this happen just in Ireland?

Clocks go back across all EU member states on the last Sunday in October and forward on the last Sunday in March. In North America, Daylight Savings Times (DST) starts on the second Sunday in March while clocks go back on the first Sunday in November.

Meanwhile, in Australia the clocks will go back on the first Sunday in April.

Why do we do it?

The clocks change so we can make the best use of natural light. The countries that are further from the equator, like Ireland, get more hours of darkness from the clock changing.

The change was made law to make the best of natural light as the earth travels around the sun. As it is naturally darker during the winter, the time goes back, giving people an extra hour's sleep in bed and in summer, the clock goes forward to allow for longer evenings.

What do you need to do?

Thanks to the advancements of modern technology, most Irish households no longer need to take much action when the clocks change. The the majority of smartphones and other digital items will make the time switch automatically tonight, but traditional clocks and watches the time will have to be changed manually.

You should also bear in mind the change of time if you are making plans for Sunday morning.

Weren't there plans to scrap Daylight Saving Time permanently?

In 2019, the EU voted on scrapping Daylight Saving Time permanently after 2021 after a decision was made based on an EU-wide survey, which resulted in the majority of people rather not having DST. The clock change was scheduled to take place in Spring 2021, but the proposal was delayed due to the world-wide outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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