Clocks across Ireland and the European Union are set to go back one hour, marking the official end of summer time as countries return to winter time.
Households will gain an extra hour of sleep when the time shifts at 2am, turning back to 1am. The annual autumn ritual follows the spring adjustment when clocks moved forward on March 29, 2026. While internet-connected devices such as smartphones and smartwatches will update automatically, traditional clocks, watches, car dashboards, and household appliances require manual adjustments. Located on Greyfriars Street in the heart of Waterford’s Viking Triangle, the local museum showcases unique timepieces including the oldest Irish-made grandfather clock. This weekend marks a time for clock enthusiast Killian, who forms an instrumental part of Horology Ireland and enjoys clock collecting as a pastime.
The Mechanical Quirks of Turret Clocks and Museum Collections in Waterford
While digital clocks handle the transition effortlessly, custodians of historical timepieces face a manual labor effort.
Expert Health Advice for Adjusting to Earlier Sunsets Across Irish Counties
Although mornings will temporarily brighten, the darker evenings often disrupt sleep patterns and biological rhythms.
Sleep expert Tom Coleman has outlined practical tips to help the public adapt to the abrupt time change without throwing off their weekly routines.
- Stick to your normal wake-up time on the new clock to help your body adjust consistently.
- Get outside into daylight early, even if it is cloudy, as morning light strengthens your biological rhythm.
- Keep meals, physical activity, and exercise consistent with the new clock while avoiding late-night eating.
- Avoid forcing yourself to stay awake or go to bed early; listen to natural sleepiness and keep evening routines relaxed.
- Make a deliberate effort to capture brief moments of daylight multiple times a day to combat darker winter evenings.
Political Deadlock Persists Over EU Plans to Scrap Seasonal Time Shifts
The biannual ritual continues despite a European Parliament vote in 2019 that favored ending seasonal time changes following an EU-wide public consultation. Member states failed to agree on a unified replacement, leaving EU institutions deadlocked. The European Commission has confirmed it plans no new proposals on the matter, ensuring the current system remains active. Bizarrely, MEP Seán Kelly has suggested moving to Central European Time, the time zone used in most of the EU.
In Ireland, the Department of Justice has raised specific concerns regarding the potential creation of two separate time zones on the island if the UK chooses not to align with EU policies. Across the UK, public opinion remains closely divided; a YouGov survey revealed that 46 percent of British citizens favor maintaining the clock changes while 42 percent support their removal. Back in 1916, Britain initially began adjusting its clocks to maximize daylight and conserve wartime fuel.
Scheduled Future Dates for Returning to British Summer Time
As winter time takes hold, daylight hours will continue to shrink until the shortest day of the year falls on Monday, December 21, when Waterford experiences fewer than eight hours of daylight.
Brighter evenings will eventually return next spring when the clocks move forward again on March 28, 2027. Residents of the Balearic Islands and mainland Spain will experience a rollback from 3am to 2am, whereas those in the Canary Islands will see time shift from 2am to 1am, granting everyone an additional sixty minutes of rest on that day. October 25, 2026 is the final time change included in the five-year calendar approved by Spain’s Official State Gazette in 2022, which is Spain’s Royal Decree PCM/186/2022, of 11 March.