1. End of Daylight Saving Time and Start of Winter Time in Ireland, 2025
According to data from the authoritative time information website TimeAndDate:
- Start of Daylight Saving Time (Irish Standard Time, IST): March 30, 2025 (Sunday), at 01:00 a.m., the clock will move forward one hour to 02:00 a.m.
- End of Daylight Saving Time, i.e., Start of Winter Time (Greenwich Mean Time, GMT): October 26, 2025 (Sunday), at 02:00 a.m., the clock will move back one hour to 01:00 a.m.
According to the unified European arrangement, this time adjustment usually takes place on the last Sunday of March and the last Sunday of October. Under Ireland’s legal framework, the law follows this schedule:
Daylight Saving Time begins at 01:00 GMT on the last Sunday of March (local time equivalent), and Winter Time resumes at 02:00 IST on the last Sunday of October.
2. Overview of Daylight Saving Time and Winter Time
1. Names and Time Definitions
- Daylight Saving Time (Irish Standard Time, IST): This is the “standard time” used in Ireland during the summer months, which is 1 hour ahead of GMT, corresponding to UTC+1.
- Winter Time (Greenwich Mean Time, GMT): The standard time used during the winter, UTC+0.
A special feature in Ireland is that the Standard Time Act of 1968 established IST (UTC+1) as the year-round standard, but the 1971 Amendment Act later specified that GMT would be used in winter, with IST reinstated during the summer.
2. Purpose and Origin of Daylight Saving and Winter Time
- Purpose: By moving clocks one hour forward in summer, evenings get more daylight. This helps reduce lighting energy consumption and extends time for evening activities, improving safety and public productivity.
- Origin: Although originally proposed by Benjamin Franklin as a way to save energy, the first large-scale implementation occurred in Germany during World War I, and it was later adopted widely across Europe.
3. Controversy and Current Situation
- Many surveys show that the majority of people dislike the twice-yearly clock changes. An EU survey in 2018 found that about 84% of respondents supported abolishing seasonal clock adjustments.
- Irish politicians, such as MEP Sean Kelly, have called for an end to the time change, citing negative impacts on health (e.g., increased risk of stroke and heart disease), traffic safety (higher accident rates), and work productivity.
- However, the Irish government (including former Justice Minister Helen McEntee) stated that to maintain synchronization with the UK and other EU regions, and to avoid multiple time zones on the island of Ireland, the country will continue observing the current daylight saving schedule.
3. Summary Table
| Item | Time |
|---|---|
| Start of Daylight Saving Time | March 30, 2025, at 01:00 a.m. (moved forward to 02:00 a.m.) |
| End of Daylight Saving / Start of Winter Time | October 26, 2025, at 02:00 a.m. (moved back to 01:00 a.m.) |
| Time System | Summer: Irish Standard Time (UTC+1); Winter: Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0) |
| Purpose | Extend evening daylight hours, improve energy efficiency and daily convenience |
| Key Debate | Balancing health, accidents, productivity, and the need for time synchronization |
Summary
In 2025, Ireland will enter Daylight Saving Time (IST) on March 30 and end it on October 26, returning to Winter Time (GMT).
The purpose of Daylight Saving Time is to make better use of daylight during summer, but it faces ongoing debates over its health, social, and economic effects. Although many citizens and politicians have called for its abolition, the government continues the system to maintain time consistency within Ireland and with neighboring countries.