Ireland’s Clocks Change Soon, Bringing 8 pm Sunsets
As Ireland prepares to bid farewell to the shorter, darker days of winter, a much-anticipated Ireland’s clocks change is on the horizon.
Spring is springing in Ireland, promising brighter days and those coveted 8 pm sunsets. While the official astronomical start to spring arrives on Wednesday, March 20, the real party starts a week later when clocks “spring forward” on Sunday, March 31.
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Wednesday, March 20, will herald the official onset of spring, as per the astronomical definition of the seasons. It marks a significant turning point, signalling the return of extended daylight hours and, optimistically, an improvement in weather conditions.
Ireland’s Clocks Change – Longer Evenings
Irish weather expert Alan O’Reilly has already shared the good news on his Carlow Weather social media accounts, predicting not just 12 hours of daylight on March 20 but evenings bathed in sunshine by the end of the month. Comments such as “Hear! There’s a noticeable sense of excitement.” Hear! Not too soon at all!” and, all over social media, the phrase “Love this time of year when Summer and longer days loom close”
The clocks change will be seamless for the tech-savvy among us, with smartphones automatically adjusting to the revised time. However, for those reliant on traditional timepieces, a manual adjustment will be necessary.
Not just Ireland will experience this temporal shift; all European Union member states will synchronise their clocks accordingly. The tradition of Daylight Saving Time, enshrined in law to optimise natural light as the earth orbits the sun, unites nations in the pursuit of maximising daylight hours.
Interestingly, the question of the permanence of Daylight Saving Time arose in 2019 following a comprehensive EU-wide survey. The majority of respondents voiced their preference to abolish the practice after 2021, citing various reasons, including health concerns and lifestyle disruptions.
While originally slated for implementation in spring 2021, the proposal was postponed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and remains pending further review.
As autumn approaches, another time adjustment looms on the horizon. On Sunday, October 27, clocks will retreat by one hour, bidding farewell to the extended daylight of summer.
Until then, let us relish the anticipation of sun-drenched evenings and the simple joys of springtime in Ireland.
As the old saying goes, “Spring forward, fall back” – a timeless tradition that continues to mark the rhythm of our lives, ensuring that as the seasons change, so too do our clocks, in harmony with the ever-turning wheel of time.
